Housing is a major driver of wealth inequality - Our new joint study with Bruegel is out

15/09/2025

Wealth inequality is not just an economic issue but a societal one, shaping access to education, healthcare, housing and political influence. The new Eurofound report helps understanding wealth disparities across the EU.

Eurofound has released Unequal wealth: Exploring socioeconomic disparities across the EU. The report, written by colleagues from Bruegel and the Budapest Institute, maps wealth disparities across the EU using ECB Household Finance and Consumption Survey data from 2010–2021.

Strong inequalities exist: the top 5 % of the wealth distribution controls a disproportionately large share of assets, while the bottom 20 % often holds negligible or negative net wealth.

Housing wealth emerges as a pivotal driver, accounting for 63% of total net worth, and an even higher proportion for younger and lower-income groups. While it creates disparities, housing wealth is generally distributed more evenly than non-housing wealth. Housing affordability is a particular burden for young people and single mothers – policy should prioritise improving their prospects, which could also contribute to reducing inequality.

Visit the Eurofound report page for the study and its summary.