Study Highlights Growing Wealth Gap in Germany

New research reveals structural disadvantages that prevent low-wealth households from closing the financial divide.

A study by Finanzwende Recherche, supported by the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, finds that low-wealth households face systemic obstacles in building assets.
The bottom 50% of German adults hold an average gross wealth of €6,000, compared to €149,000 for the middle 40% and €925,000 for the top 10%.
Lower starting capital and weaker investment returns contribute to a €525 annual financial disadvantage for poorer households compared to the middle wealth group.
High costs for basic financial products and reliance on depreciating assets like cars further hinder wealth accumulation for low-income groups.
The study calls for improved consumer protections and financial education to address these disparities, noting that the issue is underrepresented in public discourse.