The financial wealth of Belgian households reached a record €1,264.4 billion in 2024, according to figures released by the National Bank of Belgium (NBB) on Monday.
Financial wealth is calculated by subtracting financial liabilities, such as loans, from financial assets, including savings accounts, shares, and bonds. Both assets and liabilities increased, but assets grew more significantly.
The total value of financial assets of Belgians rose by 5.2% to €1,622 billion in 2024. Belgian households invested €24.4 billion net last year, favouring safe options like term deposits (€13.4 billion) and savings accounts (€9.1 billion).
Higher valuations also contributed to the growth, with Belgian households' portfolios recording €55.1 billion in positive valuation effects. Investment fund participations saw the highest valuation gains at €31.6 billion, followed by insurance products (€15 billion) and listed shares (€4.9 billion), according to the NBB.
Over a third of the portfolios comprised low-risk instruments, such as savings and current accounts. However, nearly two-thirds were invested in riskier assets like shares and funds.
Finally, household financial liabilities increased by 2.4% in 2024, totalling €357.6 billion. This rise was mainly due to a €7 billion increase in mortgage loans, indicating the continued popularity of real estate investments.
