On the occasion of Financial Education Month, XTB presented the results of a research conducted by YouGov on the financial behavior of Italians, highlighting a picture which, while showing signs of dynamism among younger people and among citizens with higher financial literacy, confirms a persistent structural delay in the relationship with savings and investment tools.
Only 1 in 4 Italians invests
According to what was found, only 25% of Italians have made an investment in the last 12 months, while over two thirds of the population – equal to 75% – declare that they have not approached any financial product. A figure that demonstrates how Italy remains a country strongly anchored to liquidity and low exposure to markets, despite the macroeconomic context characterized by persistent inflation, evolution of interest rates and the growing complexity of global markets making the ability to plan, diversify and protect one’s assets more strategic than ever.
The picture becomes even more evident when observing the gender differences: only 19% of women declare having invested, compared to 32% of men. This gap – rooted in low confidence in one’s financial skills and persistent inequality in access to information and training – highlights the urgency of dedicated, inclusive and targeted educational programs to strengthen women’s financial autonomy.
wide differences in gender, education and territory
Furthermore, geography continues to reflect significant differences: Northern Italy remains the most active area, with 29% of investors, while the percentage drops in the Center (26%), and in the South and Islands (21%). Also in this case, the data suggests a close link between more dynamic economic ecosystems, greater availability of financial services and greater sensitivity towards estate planning.
Education also plays a key role: among those with a degree, the percentage of investors rises to 39%, while it stops at 26% among those with a diploma and drops to 19% among those with a middle or elementary school qualification. Financial literacy therefore emerges as a determining and discriminating factor, reinforcing the idea that the ability to make informed decisions and access the benefits of investment remains the prerogative of those who possess greater cultural, and not just economic, resources.
XTB research
In terms of the instruments used, precise preferences emerge: bonds (32%), Italian shares (28%), mutual funds (26%) and savings plans (25%) lead the ranking, followed by investments in ETFs (18%) and cryptocurrencies (16%), with a particular concentration in the 18-34 age group. The growing presence of PACs and ETFs underlines the interest of a growing part of the population in long-term solutions and gradual approaches to building wealth, even if the general figure remains low compared to the standards of the main Western economies.
Investment objectives reflect the tension between present and future: income supplementation (26%), saving for retirement or the future (25%) and capital protection (18%) emerge as key priorities. Among the youngest, the aspiration for financial independence is strongly affirmed, while among the more mature groups the protection of assets and the search for stability prevails.
