The Instituto Nacional de Estatística reported on Wednesday that net wealth among Portuguese families reached 278.3 thousand euros in 2024, supported by rising housing values.
The statistics agency corrected earlier figures published in May, which had estimated real growth in average family wealth at 29 percent between 2020 and 2024. The revised data shows average net family wealth, calculated as the difference between assets and debts, grew 21 percent in real terms over that period.
The agency explained that net family wealth for 2024 was revised downward by an average of 7 percent. However, the institution noted that qualitative conclusions from the report remain unchanged.
The agency attributed the growth largely to a 21.1 percent average rise in real assets, driven by strong growth in housing prices.
Financial Assets and Debt Levels
The Instituto Nacional de Estatística reported that families hold the largest share of their financial wealth in deposits, particularly savings certificates. The institution stated that this choice aligns with a high level of risk aversion reported by households.
The agency stated that 41.7 percent of families held some form of debt in 2024. Among indebted families, the median debt value was 34.5 thousand euros.
The percentage of households with high debt levels was lower in 2024 than in previous years, according to the agency. The institution concluded that this improvement resulted from debt reduction, higher incomes, and rising asset values.
