Women’s average wealth falls £34k as UK gender gap widens

Women’s average financial assets fell by more than £34,000 over the past year while men’s wealth continued to grow, widening the UK’s gender wealth gap to its highest level on record.

Research from Handelsbanken Wealth’s 2026 Wealth Survey found women’s average financial assets dropped from £177,019 to £142,228 over the past 12 months, a decline of almost 20%.

By contrast, men’s average financial assets increased from £217,988 to £224,928.

The research suggests the widening gap is increasingly being driven by differences in long-term wealth creation rather than earnings alone, with women less confident about investing and less likely to make key financial decisions.

More than half (56%) of men said they understood investments well, compared with 34% of women.

Women were also more likely to feel apprehensive about investing, with 39% saying they felt nervous about making investment decisions, compared with 26% of men.

The survey also found men were more likely to take responsibility for pensions and investments within their households.

Nearly half (46%) said they managed their pension, compared with a third (33%) of women.

Meanwhile, 42% of men oversaw investment decisions, compared with 23% of women.

Women less likely than men to plan for long-term wealth

While a quarter of women said they did not receive any financial advice – only slightly more than the 22% of men who said the same – women were less likely to use a professional financial adviser.

Just 17% sought advice from an adviser, compared with 22% of men, while women were more likely to rely on family members or friends for financial guidance.

Stephen Cowling, head of wealth at Handelsbanken, said: “Seeing women’s average financial assets fall by more than £34,000 in a single year, while men’s wealth continues to grow, highlights just how fragile financial progress can be.

“As well as reporting lower wealth, women also continue to report lower levels of investment knowledge and confidence, and are significantly less likely to be responsible for pensions and investment decisions. Missing out on those conversations and decisions over many years can have a profound impact on long-term wealth.

“Closing the wealth gap will require more than narrowing the pay gap. It means improving financial confidence, encouraging earlier engagement with investing and pensions, and ensuring more women are empowered to take control of the decisions that shape their financial futures.”