Germany news: Number of millionaires is growing, study shows

Around 1.78 million people in Germany were classified as high-net-worth individuals or people who have at least $1 million in liquid assets. Follow live.

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Frankfurt skyscrapers
Germany has the third largest number of millionaires in the world [FILE: March 2026]Image: Stefan Ziese/imageBROKER/picture alliance

Skip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

  • Germany has the third highest number of people with liquid assets totaling at least $1 million, according to a study
  • Catholic-majority states in the country are celebrating Catholic holiday of “Fronleichnam” or Corpus Christi
  • Reactions continue to Germany’s failure to secure a seat at the UN Security Council
  • Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is scheduled to land in Mexico City later tonight

Keep reading here for the latest news out of Germany on June 4, 2026:

Skip next section A public holiday in majority Catholic states in Germany06/04/2026June 4, 2026

A public holiday in majority Catholic states in Germany

German states with a majority Catholic population are observing a major holiday called Fronleichnam in German or Corpus Christi (Latin for “Body of Christ”).

The festival celebrates the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, honoring the belief that Jesus Christ is substantially present in the bread and wine used during communion.

Today is a public holiday in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland. 

This holiday is also an official holiday in certain predominantly Catholic communities in the states of Saxony and Thuringia.

However, in Berlin and other states, it’s just another workday.

Even though the festival isn’t a nationwide holiday, many people take advantage of the Thursday holiday by combining it with a Friday holiday to enjoy a long weekend.

https://p.dw.com/p/5EppaSkip next section Germany third on list for number of millionares globally06/04/2026June 4, 2026

Germany third on list for number of millionares globally

New York Stock Exchange
Financial assets remain concentrated in the hand of the ultra-rich, study finds [FILE: April 2025]Image: Angela Weiss/AFP

The number of millionares worldwide grew by almost 2 million last year to reach a record 25.3 million people in 2025, according to a new study.

Germany saw its population of high-net-worth individuals or people with liquid assets of $1 million (€860 million) or more rising by 11.1% to about 1.78 million people a year.

Their combined wealth rose by 12.7% to just over $7.1 trillion, helped in part by easing inflation. 

That put Germany third on the list of countries with the most number of millionaires, according to Capgemini, a consulting firm.

Europe’s population of high-net-worth individuals also grew 6.5% in 2025 after a decline in 2024. 

Those gains were attributed to stabilizing equity markets and easing inflation.

US adds most number of millionaires

Meanwhile, the United States added the largest number of “dollar millionares,” defined as people with a net worth of at least $1 million, according to the study.

The US added 736,000 millionaires last year — more than any other country worldwide — with the number of millionaires totaling 8.7 million.

The boom in wealth generation was largely led by expectations and enthusiasm over artificial intelligence that sent tech stocks soaring.

Asian economies recorded the highest growth on a regional level. Japan added 436,000 millionaires and China added 154,000 millionaires. 

https://p.dw.com/p/5EpkuSkip next section Welcome to our coverage06/04/2026June 4, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Dmytro Hubenko Editor

Bonn, where our newsroom is based, is celebrating “Fronleichnam” or Corpus Christi, a holiday observed in Catholic German states.

But the news keeps rolling on, and so do we!

Keep reading for the latest news out of Germany.

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