Hungary's loan avoidance climbs, Romania's ultra‑wealthy count nearly doubles

A 2026 Provident Financial Wellbeing survey shows that 63.6% of Hungarians did not take any loan in the past year, up from 49.9% in 2025 and well above the 54.4% average of nine surveyed countries. Only Estonia recorded a higher avoidance rate (68.3%). Bank borrowing rose modestly to 14.5% from 12% a year earlier, still far below the 23.5% international average. Younger adults (18‑44) are more likely to seek credit from family or friends, while three‑quarters of those over 55 avoided loans entirely. The survey warns of risks from private‑person lending.

In Romania, the number of individuals with assets exceeding $30 million grew by about 93% over the past five years, reaching 749 in 2026 according to a Knight Frank report cited by economist Nagy Bálint Zsolt. Projections suggest the figure could surpass 1,120 by 2031, placing Romania among Europe’s wealthiest nations alongside Poland, Sweden and Greece. The expert notes that the surge in financial assets and real‑estate values is largely detached from the real economy and that additional taxes on the ultra‑rich would have limited impact on the national budget deficit.