Germany tops Europe in ultra‑rich wealth, while Poland sees fastest growth (2021‑2026)

Europe’s ultra‑high‑net‑worth individual (UHNWI) population grew by 26% between 2021 and 2026, adding 37,428 new members to reach 183,953 people holding at least $30 million in net wealth. The continent now accounts for 25.8% of the world’s more than 710,000 UHNWIs.

Germany leads Europe with 38,215 UHNWIs, followed by the United Kingdom (27,876) and France (21,528). Switzerland (17,692) and Italy (15,433) round out the top five. The largest absolute increase was in Germany, which added 9,273 ultra‑rich individuals, with notable gains also in Switzerland (4,968), France (3,781) and the UK (3,005).

In percentage terms, Poland’s ultra‑rich population more than doubled, rising 109%, while Turkey (94%) and Romania (93%) recorded similarly rapid expansions. Greece, Czechia and Portugal each saw growth of at least 50%. Spain, Germany, Italy and France posted gains of 42%, 32%, 23% and 21% respectively, while the UK registered the lowest rise among major economies at 12% and Sweden the lowest overall at 8%.

The report notes that rising tax pressures and tighter regulation are accelerating the cross‑border mobility of wealth, with family offices managing tax, lifestyle and political risk. The United States remains the global leader with 387,422 UHNWIs, but Europe’s share is expanding across a broader geographic base.