Fact check: What % of people in Germany invests actively

1. Summary of the results

1. Summary of the results:

According to available data, approximately 16.2% of Germans owned shares or equity funds as of 2018, representing about 10.3 million citizens. The participation rate varies significantly by income level, from 31.4% among those earning €4,000+ monthly to just 3.8% for those earning under €1,000. Age also plays a crucial role, with over 36% of investors being over 60 years old.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints:

• The term "actively invests" needs clarification, as the data combines both active traders and passive fund holders
• The statistics reveal that 87.3% of non-shareholders are completely uninvolved in stock investments
• There are significant barriers to investment participation: 65% of Germans consider stocks too risky, and 64% cite lack of financial knowledge
• Only 29% of Germans understand the benefits of long-term returns, suggesting an education gap
• The data is from 2018 and may not reflect current investment patterns, especially post-COVID

3. Potential misinformation/bias:

• The question assumes a simple percentage would tell the whole story, when in reality, investment participation varies dramatically based on:

Income levels (showing a clear wealth divide in market participation)

Age groups (with older Germans being more likely to invest)

• Education about financial markets
• Traditional banks and financial institutions benefit from low retail investor participation through higher fees and maintaining control over financial services
• Investment platforms and fintech companies have a vested interest in increasing these numbers through educational initiatives and easier access to markets