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Financial literacy in Europe

Financial literacy is crucial for Europeans to successfully navigate the complexities of today’s financial landscape.

During the ECB’s International Women’s Day event on 7 March 2025, President Lagarde, panellists and participating national central bank Governors agreed to deliver on the following five commitments to close the gender gap in financial literacy.

  1. Be a voice for change and keep raising awareness in the respective countries, institutions and communities.
  2. Create a central bank financial literacy network focusing on promoting financial literacy, addressing the gender gap and sharing best practices and resources for collective action.
  3. Include national competent authorities in the network, leveraging their consumer protection function.
  4. Develop a comprehensive and harmonised dataset across Europe, extend data collection to countries that lack these data and create standardised measures for financial literacy.
  5. Enhance financial literacy efforts in three key teachable moments of a person’s life: (i) early education, (ii) taking out a major loan (e.g. buying a house or starting a business), and (iii) building a pension.

This page showcases national efforts to improve financial literacy across Europe. These initiatives aim to provide individuals with knowledge and skills to make informed financial decisions.

The European Central Bank is committed to fostering collaboration and innovation in financial literacy among national central banks

Explore diverse projects, access valuable tools, and see how these initiatives are shaping a more financially informed and resilient Europe.

Please select a country

Austria

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1995

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)


Oesterreichische Nationalbank resources

Belgium

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)


Nationale Bank van België/Banque Nationale de Belgique resources

Bulgaria

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 2007


Българска народна банка (Bulgarian National Bank) resources

Cyprus

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2008


Central Bank of Cyprus resources

Czech Republic

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 2004


Česká národní banka resources

Germany

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)


Deutsche Bundesbank resources

Denmark

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 1973


Danmarks Nationalbank

Spain

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1986

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)


Banco de España resources

Finland

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1995

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)


Suomen Pankki - Finlands Bank

France

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)


Banque de France resources

Croatia

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2013

Euro since 2023


Hrvatska narodna banka resources

Hungary

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 2004


Magyar Nemzeti Bank

Ireland

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1973

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)


Central Bank of Ireland resources

Italy

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)


Banca d’Italia resources

Lithuania

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2015


Lietuvos bankas resources

Luxembourg

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)


Banque centrale du Luxembourg resources

Latvia

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2014


Latvijas Banka resources

Monaco

Non-EU country

Malta

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2008


Bank Ċentrali ta’ Malta/Central Bank of Malta resources

The Netherlands

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)


De Nederlandsche Bank resources

Poland

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 2004


Narodowy Bank Polski

Portugal

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1986

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)


Banco de Portugal

Romania

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 2007


Banca Națională a României resources

Sweden

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 1995


Sveriges Riksbank

Slovenia

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2007


Banka Slovenije resources

Slovakia

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2009


Národná banka Slovenska

San Marino

Non-EU country

Messages from the Governing Council

Deutsche Bundesbank
Central Bank of Ireland
Banque de France
Hrvatska narodna banka
Lietuvos bankas
De Nederlandsche Bank
Oesterreichische Nationalbank
Národná banka Slovenska

SEE ALSO

Find out more about related content

ECB International Women’s Day 2025

At an event on 7 March 2025, President Lagarde and five panellists discussed the importance of financial literacy for central banks and banking supervision authorities and its impact on monetary policy transmission.

Visit the event page

The ECB Podcast

Our host Stefania Secola talks to Annamaria Lusardi from Stanford University about what financial literacy is, why it matters and how we can improve it, especially among women.

Mind the gap: gender and financial literacy

All pages in this section