European purchasing power projected to reach €21,153 per capita by 2026

According to data from NielsenIQ, average per capita purchasing power in Europe is forecasted to rise to €21,153 in 2026, representing a nominal growth of 4.4 percent compared to the previous year. The total purchasing power across 42 studied countries is expected to reach approximately €14.5 trillion, covering essential costs such as housing, energy, mobility, and private savings.

Significant economic disparities persist across the continent. Liechtenstein is projected to lead with a per capita purchasing power of €78,520, nearly 3.7 times the continental average. Switzerland and Iceland follow in second and third place, respectively. Norway showed the most notable improvement among the top ten, rising from tenth to fifth place.

While Western European markets remain the largest in volume, Central and Southeastern Europe are developing more dynamically. In contrast, Ukraine is projected to have the lowest purchasing power at €3,456 per capita, which is roughly one-sixth of the European average.