Belgium ranks second in our survey of financial wealth (2024)

FAQs

Belgium ranks second in our survey of financial wealth? ›

At the end of 2021, the average financial wealth per individual in the Netherlands was 176,510 euros, more than 4.5 times the lowest score in Portugal. Belgium ranks second with 121,000 euros.

Belgium is considered a high-income country, and reports a comparatively high quality of life for its citizens, as well as high levels of health care.

According to the Global Wealth Report 2023, an annual study by the Swiss banks Crédit Suisse and UBS, Belgians are the richest people in the world, calculated according to median income (228,000 euros per adult). This means that 50% of Belgians even have a higher income! Belgians are the richest in the world!

Distribution of household net wealth in Belgium

More than half of net wealth in Belgium (55% in Q2 2023) is held by the richest 10% of households (decile 10). This is a slight decline from five years ago. The least wealthy 50% of households (bottom 50%) own 8.4% of total net wealth.

Top 2% wealth: The top 2% of Americans have a net worth of about $2.472 million, aligning closely with the surveyed perception of wealth. Top 5% wealth: The next tier, the top 5%, has a net worth of around $1.03 million. Top 10% wealth: The top 10% of the population has a net worth of approximately $854,900.

With exports equivalent to over two-thirds of the country's gross national income (GNI), Belgium depends heavily on world trade. Belgium's trade advantages are derived from its central geographic location and a highly skilled, multilingual, and productive work force.

In the top 10 EU countries, the Dutchman is the richest. This is what emerges from our study. At the end of 2021, the average financial wealth per individual in the Netherlands was 176,510 euros, more than 4.5 times the lowest score in Portugal. Belgium ranks second with 121,000 euros.

Belgium Average Monthly Salary data was reported at 3,886.000 EUR in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,832.000 EUR for 2020. Belgium Average Monthly Salary data is updated yearly, averaging 3,103.000 EUR from Sep 1999 (Median) to 2021, with 23 observations.

Belgium is facing higher structural deficits and rising debt after the pandemic and energy crisis. Fiscal consolidation is needed to lower inflation, rebuild buffers, reduce debt, and preserve Belgium's social contract.

What percent of Belgium is in poverty? ›

2,150,000 Belgians, or 18.6% of the population, are at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE). This is what emerged from the new poverty figures for 2023 published today by Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, based on the survey on income and living conditions (EU-SILC).

The study, which was conducted by Eurostat, the EU's official statistics office, found that 18.7% of the Belgian population are either poor, financially insecure, or in some way materially or socially deprived in 2022.

The families who own a large stake in brewers AB Inbev feature on the top spot. The Spoelberch, de Mévius and Vandamme families are thought to be worth 49,391,305,000 euros all told. They are followed by the Walloon entrepreneur Albert Frère and the Emsens Family whose assets include the industrial group Etex.

The Belgian standard of living is among the highest in the world, thanks to universal health care, social security coverage and an excellent education system.

Is living in Belgium expensive? Living in Belgium isn't cheap, but its relatively high cost of living goes hand in hand with high salaries and a high living standard. The cost of living in Belgium per month would be around €1,565 (US$1,692) for a single person living in a 1-bedroom apartment in a city centre.

Belgium is not regarded as a cheap place to live but is an economically wealthy country that offers high living standards. The OECD Better Life Index reports that Belgium scores highly on low pollution levels, water quality, voter participation, education, and skills.