In recent years, Finns have excelled in equity investing
Finns have excelled in equity investing in recent years In recent years, Finns have favoured direct equity investments, while Swedes have trusted funds. This is evident from the financial accounts of the national economy. The same statistics also show that Swedes invest more on average.
Finns invested 290 euros in shares last year
A Finn invested an average of 290 euros in listed shares last year. The figure is net, i.e. the difference between purchases and redemptions. In 2023, the figure was 220 euros. Ruotsalainen invested EUR 90 and EUR 127 in shares in the corresponding years. In other words, Finns have been more active equity investors than Swedes in the past two years.
Statistics also show that the popularity of equity investing in Sweden has decreased significantly since 2020. At that time, private individuals in Sweden invested an average of EUR 340 in listed shares. Finns' enthusiasm for equities weakened momentarily in 2021, but has since recovered.
The coronavirus year was a clear watershed in equity investing. Until 2019, activity was rather subdued on both sides of the Gulf of Bothnia, but picked up significantly in 2020. For Finns, the enthusiasm for the stock market seems to have stayed on after the coronavirus year. The strong performance of the stock market after the coronavirus pandemic certainly explains part of the popularity of stock investing.
Swedes hoard funds
In 2024, Swedes invested an average of EUR 1,100 per capita in funds. Finns put less than half of this amount into funds, about 500 euros per citizen. In recent years, Swedes have favoured funds at the expense of listed shares. In the Swedish pension system, citizens have the opportunity to decide how part of their pension assets are invested. This has introduced people to the fund product, which also makes it easier to invest in it.
Overall, Swedes save more. In 2024, a total of EUR 1,200 was invested in listed shares and funds. Finns invested less, about 800 euros.
The general claim that Swedes are exceptionally active stock market investors is not true, at least not in the light of the statistics of recent years. Finns, on the other hand, seem to prefer listed shares to fund investments. The statistics do not take a stand on return expectations, as the division of fund investments into fixed income and equity investments is not specified.
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