In the last 20 years, the financial situation of Portuguese families has changed significantly, with a notable increase in net financial wealth. This figure, representing the difference between financial assets and liabilities, more than doubled from 172 billion euros in 2005 to 402 billion euros in 2025.
This evolution is attributed to two main factors: families' decisions on allocating their savings and the appreciation of financial assets. While deposits remain the primary savings vehicle, components like company shares and investment funds have gained importance. A larger portion of financial wealth is now invested in instruments whose value depends on financial market performance.
The reduced weight of debt in the economy has also contributed to this improvement. Loans to families, which represented about 80% of GDP in 2005, decreased their share over the years to 63% of GDP in 2025.
