Only one woman in ten invests in the financial markets in Italy. This is what emerges from research by XTB which underlines that this is a lower figure than other European countries such as Romania (22%), Portugal (19%) and the Czech Republic (16%).
Financial markets: in Italy only 1 in 10 women invest
“If in Italy the percentage of women investing in the markets still remains limited and stable, on a global level female participation continues to grow. This indicates that an international movement towards greater financial inclusion is being activated, which our country can also grasp and support.”, declared Gaia Zerbola, Marketing & Partnerships Manager of XTB.
The profile of the female investor in Italy
The XTB data shows us a well-defined picture of the Italian female investor in 2025. The average age is 39 years, slightly lower than the average age of 41 in 2024. For men who operate on the markets, however, the average age is 35 years, almost identical to that of 2024 when it was 36. Female investors tend to prefer more traditional forms of investment, which are seeing an increase in their popularity compared to to the previous year. In 2025, 11% of their portfolios were allocated to stocks (in 2024 it was 6%), versus 3% dedicated to ETFs (in 2024 it was 3%).
However, the increase in equity exposure represents a sign of greater openness towards market instruments compared to the previous year, indicating a gradual evolution in the investment approach. However, this greater participation does not translate into a search for high volatility, but rather into a selection oriented towards stocks perceived as solid and rooted in the national context, such as Unicredit, Intesa Sanpaolo and Leonardo.
In most other countries, however, female investors’ portfolios are often oriented towards stocks linked to international tech and artificial intelligence companies, a symptom of a broader financial vision.
As regards the section of portfolios dedicated to ETFs, the opening of which is still rather shy, Italian investors prefer: the iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF, iShares S&P 500 Information Technology Sector UCITS ETF and iShares NASDAQ 100 UCITS ETF USD, confirming a propensity for global indices and stable investments.
More and more Italian investors in mobile investing
Compared to 2024, in 2025 there will be a reversal of the trend with respect to the investment method chosen by female investors: 75% of the transactions they carried out were carried out via mobile, while only 25% opted for the desktop to manage their investments. A change, in fact, compared to 2024 where 52% of transactions took place via desktop, therefore via a more traditional device.
The data highlights a paradigm shift: investing is no longer an occasional activity linked to traditional tools, but is increasingly integrated into everyday life, thanks to the spread of intuitive and accessible digital platforms.
“Looking to the future, the democratization of investments and access to practical training can help bridge the gap. Italian female investors show a prudent approach and at the same time are adopting digital tools in an increasingly natural way, integrating investments into everyday life. XTB is actively and consistently committed to accompanying Italian female investors on this path, offering dedicated resources and concrete support to make informed decisions and build a more solid, inclusive and sustainable financial future.”, concludes Zerbola.
