Global savings statistics
See how much Australian households save and how they compare with other OECD countries.
Key takeaways
- Australian households saved 6.5% of their disposable income in the June quarter 2026, according to the ABS, well below the pandemic peak of 23.3% in the June quarter 2020.
- OECD data puts Australia's 2025 household saving ratio at about 6.7%, behind Sweden (14.7%) and Germany (10.1%) but ahead of the US (4.8%) and Canada (4.7%).
- With Australia's saving ratio well below its 2021 level of 15%, it's worth comparing high-interest savings accounts to boost your returns.
Savings may have skyrocketed over the course of the pandemic, but the cost of living worldwide has increased significantly. Household saving ratios in most Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries have since fallen back from their 2020 and 2021 highs, according to OECD Economic Outlook data.
Quick summary:
- In 2025, Australia's household saving ratio was behind countries such as Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands, but ahead of the US and Canada, according to the OECD.
- The ABS household saving ratio was 6.5% in the June quarter 2026, up from 6.4% in the March quarter.
- Australians' annual saving ratio has dropped significantly from 16.9% in 2020, according to the OECD.
- Aussie household savings have recovered since 2023, with the ABS saving ratio above 5% in every quarter since the December quarter 2024.
- Switzerland had one of the highest household saving ratios in the OECD at 21.7% in 2024, the latest actual year in the OECD data.
Drop in Australian household savings
The charts below show OECD forecasts made in November 2024.
- Over 2025, the ABS household saving ratio ranged from 5.9% in the June quarter to 7.2% in the December quarter.
- The ratio peaked at 23.3% in the June quarter 2020 and fell to a low of 1.8% in the September quarter 2023.
- At 6.5% in the June quarter 2026, it's recovered from that low but is still well below the pandemic peak.
How Australia compares to the rest of the world
The charts below show OECD forecasts made in November 2024.
- The household saving ratio measures household net saving as a share of household net disposable income, so it shows how much of their income households set aside rather than spend.
- Leading the way are the Swiss, who saved over a fifth (21.7%) of their household disposable income in 2024, the latest actual year in the OECD data. Among countries with 2025 data, Sweden (14.7%), Hungary (12.6%) and Czechia (12.4%) saved the most.
- Australia's 2025 ratio of about 6.7% was close to Poland (7.5%) and Denmark (7.4%), and higher than Norway (4.3%) and Finland (4.4%).
- Germany (10.1%), the Netherlands (10.2%) and Austria (9.9%) also saved a larger share of their income than Australia in 2025.
- At the other end of the spectrum, Italian households saved 3.2% of their income in 2025, and Japanese households just 0.7% in 2024.
Global drop in household savings
The charts below show OECD forecasts made in November 2024.
- Most OECD countries' household saving ratios are well below their 2020 and 2021 pandemic highs.
- Australia's ratio fell from 15.0% in 2021 to about 6.7% in 2025, according to the OECD.
- Ireland's ratio fell from 17.2% in 2021 to 8.4% in 2024, the latest actual year in the OECD data.
- In the US, the ratio fell from 11.9% in 2021 to 4.8% in 2025, and in Germany from 14.2% to 10.1%.
- Not every country followed this pattern: Poland's ratio rose from 3.1% in 2021 to 7.5% in 2025, and Denmark's from 0.5% to 7.4%.
Sources
More resources on Finder
Ask a question
More guides on Finder
-
Bank of Queensland Simple Saver Account
Check out out review of the Bank of Queensland Simple Saver Account.
-
Disposable income in Australia
Finder analysed earnings and living expenses to find out where Aussies have the most disposable income and where is the best place to retire.
-
Savings account statistics 2024
The average Australian has $37,975 in savings and saves $705 each month. Learn about this and more with our savings account statistics.
-
How to build an emergency savings fund
Four steps to creating an emergency savings fund and how much money you should aim to keep in it.
-
Savings and bank accounts for charities
Worthy causes of all types can benefit from the features of various types of savings accounts for charities.
-
Australian interest rate history
See historical interest rates for savings accounts since January 2012.
-
Compare offshore accounts
Offshore bank accounts can provide tremendous benefits to the Australian investor, but only when chosen carefully.
-
High interest savings account rates for balances $250,000+
Accounts where the maximum rate applies over $250,000 could give your savings a substantial boost in passive income and the maximum benefit.
-
Best savings accounts October 2026: top interest rates
See some of the best savings accounts in Australia right now with high interest rates and no fees, plus tips to help you find the best savings account for you.