Belgians and their wealth
Thanks to our Chair at Ghent University, we proudly present already our second 'wealth report'.
Helping to build our clients' wealth is one of our bank's core tasks. We think that providing you with a well-founded and especially ‘realistic’ benchmark like this, we hope to bring you one step closer to realising your goals.
Some conclusions
Yet, more info is to be found in the wealth report.
Belgians’ wealth is increasing
The median wealth of Belgians is growing, and even outpacing inflation. Belgian households’ wealth rose by 11.2% last year to 277 231EUR compared to an inflation rate of 4.4%. This points to an increase in actual prosperity.
Wages are the main source of wealth
Work pays off! Wages are the main source of wealth for two out of three Belgians. For 5% of the population, inheritances and donations are the primary sources. One in four say these played a role in building wealth, but cite other sources as more important. Entrepreneurship, investments, and real estate play a greater role among the wealthy.
The rich are getting richer
Households with significant wealth saw the biggest increase in absolute terms. This reinforces the idea that the richest households are becoming even richer. They tend to diversify further and draw income from multiple sources - and the wealth report confirms that this strategy is paying off.
Belgians Seek Security
Half of Belgians invest, yet savings accounts remain the favorite financial product. Belgian households hold over 370 billion euros in savings and current accounts. Families mainly save for unexpected expenses (56%), retirement (34%), and travel (30%). Security is a key concern. The reasons for saving underline the desire for financial safety. The larger the wealth, the more risk people are willing to take.
Housing is the main expense
Real estate is the largest spending category for Belgian households, followed by travel and healthcare. Young families spend mostly on housing, while older households spend more on healthcare. Spending patterns are closely linked to life stage.
