British families have suffered the largest fall in wealth among rich countries since the pandemic, according to the UBS Global Wealth Report 2026, as reported by the Telegraph. The average Briton’s wealth has dropped by more than a fifth over the last five years, the worst decline among the 37 developed economies surveyed.
Median household total wealth in Great Britain stands at £293,700, while the mean average sits at roughly £380,000.
Wealth here is measured as the value of assets such as property and stocks, which have been “rapidly eroded” as inflation soared.
At the same time, billionaire wealth in Britain is on the decline, with more high‑net‑worth individuals leaving the UK for lower‑tax jurisdictions. The 2026 Sunday Times Rich List recorded the biggest fall in its 37‑year history, with one in six 2024 entrants absent in 2026 because they had left the country.
Together, these point to a pattern where median households are getting poorer, while the very top have been more resilient globally – though not necessarily in the UK.
Source of the chart: Telegraph.co.uk
Countries where the average wealth increases while the median wealth decreases have increasing disparities between the rich and the poor. Over the past five years, this trend has been especially strong in the United States, Australia, Spain, Germany and Switzerland.
Other countries have increased the average wealth much faster than the median wealth, meaning that it is especially the richest people who have increased their wealth a lot. That is the case in South Korea, Russia and Taiwan.
Countries where the median wealth increased significantly more than the average wealth getting more egalitarian. Over the past five years, this has been the case in Cyprus and Japan.
The UK is rather unique in that the average wealth and median wealth per capita both decreased by about the same percentage. In other words, everyone is getting poorer.
What the numbers say
- Decline in real terms: Typical individual wealth has fallen by around £28,500 since 2020 after accounting for inflation.
- Percentage drop: Average wealth per adult fell by 23.2% between 2020 and 2025.
- Current level: The median adult is now worth just over £95,500 (about $126,500).
- International ranking: Britons are a touch richer than the French but poorer than the Dutch and Italians.
Median household total wealth in Great Britain stands at £293,700, while the mean average sits at roughly £380,000.
Why Britain came off so badly
The main driver is Britain’s inflation shock, which was more severe than in other developed nations:- Inflation peaked at 11.1% in October 2022.
- Energy costs leapt sharply after the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, hitting the UK harder than many peers.
- UBS Chief Economist Paul Donovan attributes the decline to this sharp surge in inflation, exacerbated by the post‑2022 energy crisis.
Wealth here is measured as the value of assets such as property and stocks, which have been “rapidly eroded” as inflation soared.
The broader picture: billionaires vs. median households
The UBS report also highlights a stark contrast:- Global billionaire wealth surged by 13% last year, fuelled by the AI boom.
- Billionaires’ wealth grew by 25% on average in the year ended in April 2026.
- Yet Britain largely “missed out” in that global wealth boom; UK residents suffered the largest fall in wealth of any developed economy since the pandemic.
At the same time, billionaire wealth in Britain is on the decline, with more high‑net‑worth individuals leaving the UK for lower‑tax jurisdictions. The 2026 Sunday Times Rich List recorded the biggest fall in its 37‑year history, with one in six 2024 entrants absent in 2026 because they had left the country.
How this fits with other UK trends
This wealth slump is consistent with a sequence of recent setbacks:- Households’ disposable incomes fell by 0.5% between July 2024 and March 2026 (ONS).
- UK living standards have fallen even though the UK showed the fastest growth in the G7 in some recent periods.
- Other surveys show UK household wealth tumbling by 17.5% in a single year to £104,329 in 2026, driven by taxes, food bills and rent costs.
Together, these point to a pattern where median households are getting poorer, while the very top have been more resilient globally – though not necessarily in the UK.
Source of the chart: Telegraph.co.uk
Countries where the average wealth increases while the median wealth decreases have increasing disparities between the rich and the poor. Over the past five years, this trend has been especially strong in the United States, Australia, Spain, Germany and Switzerland.
Other countries have increased the average wealth much faster than the median wealth, meaning that it is especially the richest people who have increased their wealth a lot. That is the case in South Korea, Russia and Taiwan.
Countries where the median wealth increased significantly more than the average wealth getting more egalitarian. Over the past five years, this has been the case in Cyprus and Japan.
The UK is rather unique in that the average wealth and median wealth per capita both decreased by about the same percentage. In other words, everyone is getting poorer.
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