Europe's Ultra-Rich Population Surges 26% in Five Years, Led by Germany

The number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals - people with at least $30 million in wealth - rose 26% across Europe over the last five years, according to Knight Frank's Wealth Report 2026. That’s 37,428 new members joining the club, bringing the total to 183,953.

Germany leads Europe with 38,215 UHNWIs, followed by the UK (27,876) and France (21,528). Switzerland has 17,692 and Italy 15,433. Spain counts 9,186, Sweden 6,845, and the Netherlands 5,077.

In absolute terms, Germany added the most new ultra-rich: 9,273. Switzerland gained 4,968, France 3,781, and the UK 3,005.

But in percentage growth, Poland tops the list, with its ultra-rich population more than doubling - up 109%. Turkey saw a 94% rise, and Romania 93%. Greece, Czechia, and Portugal each grew at least 50%.

“The picture is one of wealth broadening geographically, even as it continues to concentrate in a handful of global powerhouses,” the report notes.

Liam Bailey, global head of research at Knight Frank, highlighted a major shift: “The US remains the dominant engine, but we are also seeing rising strength from India and a cohort of fast-maturing economies.”

The report also notes that tax and regulatory pressures are accelerating cross-border mobility, with UHNWIs managing multiple jurisdictions through family offices.

The United States still leads the world with 387,422 UHNWIs.