The number of ultra-wealthy individuals in Europe has grown sharply over the past five years, even as data continues to highlight deep inequality in wealth distribution across the continent.
According to Knight Frank’s Wealth Report 2026, Europe’s population of ultra-high-net-worth individuals—defined as those with at least $30 million in assets—has increased by 26 percent since 2021. The total has risen from 146,525 to 183,953, adding more than 37,000 individuals in five years.
This growth translates to an average of roughly 20 new ultra-wealthy individuals each day in Europe. Globally, the report shows around 89 people cross the $30 million threshold daily, underscoring a broader expansion of extreme wealth across major economies.
Despite this rise, wealth inequality within Europe remains pronounced. The European Central Bank reported in 2023 that the median net wealth of households in the euro area stood at €123,500. However, the distribution varies widely, ranging from just €2,000 among the bottom 20 percent of households to more than €1 million for the top 20 percent.
Germany leads Europe in the growth of ultra-wealthy residents. The number of individuals in the country with at least $30 million in wealth increased from 28,942 in 2021 to 38,215 in 2026. On average, this equates to about five new entrants per day. Germany remains Europe’s largest economy and ranks third globally in GDP after the United States and China.
Switzerland has also seen strong growth, adding an average of 2.7 ultra-wealthy individuals per day over the same period. France follows with around 2.1 new members daily, bringing its total to 21,518. The United Kingdom and Italy both record growth of approximately 1.6 individuals per day, while Spain adds about 1.5. Turkey also features among the faster-growing markets in Europe, with around 1.1 new ultra-wealthy individuals daily.
Smaller but steady increases are recorded across other European economies, including Poland, Czechia, Austria, Denmark, Portugal, the Netherlands, Ireland and Sweden, where growth ranges from 0.3 to 0.9 individuals per day.
On a global scale, the United States remains the dominant hub for extreme wealth, with 251,352 ultra-high-net-worth individuals in 2026. China follows with 121,677, while Germany ranks third worldwide. The United States alone adds an average of 36.7 new ultra-wealthy individuals daily, roughly one every 90 minutes. China adds about 12.5 per day.
India and Australia also appear among the top global contributors outside Europe. Overall, the global ultra-wealthy population increased by 162,191 between 2021 and 2026, reaching a total of 713,626 individuals.
Liam Bailey, global head of research at Knight Frank, said the trend reflects a major shift in global wealth distribution, with established and emerging economies both contributing to rapid growth in high-net-worth populations.
At the same time, UBS Global Wealth Report 2025 data highlights significant variation in average wealth per adult across Europe, ranging from about €29,923 in Turkey to €634,584 in Switzerland, reinforcing the continent’s persistent wealth divide despite rising numbers at the top end of the economic scale.
