Europe’s largest economy, Germany, and one of its fastest-growing, Poland, may seem like economic opposites, but economist Marcin Piątkowski argues they could form a powerful partnership that reshapes the continent’s future.

In an interview with Euronews, Piątkowski, professor at Kozminski University and author of Europe’s Growth Champion: Insights from the Economic Rise of Poland, described the pairing as a “match made in heaven,” highlighting how Germany’s industrial strength and Poland’s rapid growth could complement each other.

While Germany continues to face sluggish growth and structural challenges, Poland has emerged as one of Europe’s strongest performers. Piątkowski said Poland has been the fastest-growing large European economy since 1990 and is expected to expand at more than 3% annually in the coming years—more than triple Germany’s projected pace.

“Poland is Europe’s most dynamic economy,” he said, adding that the country has increased its income per capita more than threefold since 1990, moving from near lower-middle-income status to levels now comparable with or above several advanced economies.

He credited Poland’s success to what he calls the “five E’s”: egalitarianism, education, entrepreneurship, elites and European Union membership. Together, these factors helped build an economy that is both fast-growing and relatively inclusive.

Poland’s education boom has been particularly significant, with university participation among young people rising from around 10% in the early 1990s to about 50% today. Its diversified industrial base, Piątkowski added, has also helped the country avoid major recessions since the transition from communism.

He stressed the importance of the European Union in Poland’s development, arguing that access to EU markets and institutions has been crucial. Without it, he estimated, Poland’s income level could be around 40% lower.

Germany also benefits significantly from Poland’s rise. German exports to Poland have increased more than 30-fold since 1990, now exceeding €100 billion annually. Poland is now a larger export market for Germany than China, supporting hundreds of thousands of German jobs.

Piątkowski said deeper cooperation could strengthen both economies. German firms bring global brands and technology, while Polish companies offer cost competitiveness and flexibility. He also pointed to opportunities for joint ventures, shared regulatory frameworks, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises across borders.

Looking ahead, he urged Germany to adopt more ambitious economic policies. “Germany needs both more fear and more optimism,” he said, calling for higher public investment, faster reforms, and a stronger focus on innovation, including artificial intelligence and modern manufacturing.

Germany, he warned, risks further stagnation without a bolder approach. Poland, meanwhile, continues to demonstrate how rapid growth can be sustained through investment, education and openness—offering lessons that Europe’s largest economy may increasingly need to consider.

The number of ultra-wealthy individuals in Europe has grown sharply over the past five years, even as data continues to highlight deep inequality in wealth distribution across the continent.

According to Knight Frank’s Wealth Report 2026, Europe’s population of ultra-high-net-worth individuals—defined as those with at least $30 million in assets—has increased by 26 percent since 2021. The total has risen from 146,525 to 183,953, adding more than 37,000 individuals in five years.

This growth translates to an average of roughly 20 new ultra-wealthy individuals each day in Europe. Globally, the report shows around 89 people cross the $30 million threshold daily, underscoring a broader expansion of extreme wealth across major economies.

Despite this rise, wealth inequality within Europe remains pronounced. The European Central Bank reported in 2023 that the median net wealth of households in the euro area stood at €123,500. However, the distribution varies widely, ranging from just €2,000 among the bottom 20 percent of households to more than €1 million for the top 20 percent.

Germany leads Europe in the growth of ultra-wealthy residents. The number of individuals in the country with at least $30 million in wealth increased from 28,942 in 2021 to 38,215 in 2026. On average, this equates to about five new entrants per day. Germany remains Europe’s largest economy and ranks third globally in GDP after the United States and China.

Switzerland has also seen strong growth, adding an average of 2.7 ultra-wealthy individuals per day over the same period. France follows with around 2.1 new members daily, bringing its total to 21,518. The United Kingdom and Italy both record growth of approximately 1.6 individuals per day, while Spain adds about 1.5. Turkey also features among the faster-growing markets in Europe, with around 1.1 new ultra-wealthy individuals daily.

Smaller but steady increases are recorded across other European economies, including Poland, Czechia, Austria, Denmark, Portugal, the Netherlands, Ireland and Sweden, where growth ranges from 0.3 to 0.9 individuals per day.

On a global scale, the United States remains the dominant hub for extreme wealth, with 251,352 ultra-high-net-worth individuals in 2026. China follows with 121,677, while Germany ranks third worldwide. The United States alone adds an average of 36.7 new ultra-wealthy individuals daily, roughly one every 90 minutes. China adds about 12.5 per day.

India and Australia also appear among the top global contributors outside Europe. Overall, the global ultra-wealthy population increased by 162,191 between 2021 and 2026, reaching a total of 713,626 individuals.

Liam Bailey, global head of research at Knight Frank, said the trend reflects a major shift in global wealth distribution, with established and emerging economies both contributing to rapid growth in high-net-worth populations.

At the same time, UBS Global Wealth Report 2025 data highlights significant variation in average wealth per adult across Europe, ranging from about €29,923 in Turkey to €634,584 in Switzerland, reinforcing the continent’s persistent wealth divide despite rising numbers at the top end of the economic scale.