Last updated: 28 May 2026 | MoneyWise UK Editorial Team | Source: Finder/Censuswide survey of 2,000 UK adults, January 2026
The average person in the UK has £19,214 in savings in 2026, but that headline hides a big gap by age, gender and region. This page sets out the average savings by age in the UK, how much you might sensibly aim for at each life stage, and exactly where the figures come from. Journalists and writers are welcome to cite these numbers with a link to this page.
Average savings by age in the UK (2026)
| Age group | Average savings |
|---|---|
| 18 to 24 | £2,699 |
| 25 to 34 | £11,023 |
| 35 to 44 | £13,379 |
| 45 to 54 | £12,452 |
| 55 and over | £33,420 |
The figures climb sharply at 55 and over, which pulls the national average up. Strip out the over-55s and the average for everyone under 55 is just £9,888.
Average savings in the UK overall
Across all adults, the average is £19,214, but averages are misleading because a minority of large savers lift the figure. The fuller picture from the same survey:
- 39% of UK adults (2 in 5) have £1,000 or less in savings.
- 25% have £200 or less.
- 16% (around 1 in 6) have no savings at all.
How much should you have saved by each age?
There is no single right number, but two widely used benchmarks help:
- An emergency fund first. MoneyHelper suggests keeping three to six months of essential outgoings in an easy-access account before anything else.
- Then save with a goal. Whether that is a house deposit, retirement or a rainy day, the amount matters less than saving consistently and keeping it somewhere that beats inflation.
You can work out the tax on your savings interest and compare where to keep it below.
Average savings by gender
Men hold an average of £23,912 versus £14,464 for women. And 81% of men have some savings, compared with 66% of women.
Average savings by region
Savings are highest in the East of England (£26,778) and lowest in Northern Ireland (£8,421).
Where to keep your savings
Wherever your balance sits versus the average, the account matters. Compare monthly interest savings accounts, weigh a fixed rate bond against a cash ISA, and check how much tax you might owe on savings interest before you move money.
How to cite this data: If you reference these figures, please credit MoneyWise UK with a link to this page. Suggested wording: “according to MoneyWise UK’s average savings by age guide”. The underlying survey data is from Finder.
Sources and methodology
Savings figures are from a survey Finder commissioned from Censuswide, which questioned a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults aged 18 and over between 12 and 14 January 2026 (margin of error around 2.2% at 95% confidence). Averages hide wide individual variation, so your own position may be very different. The emergency-fund guidance is from MoneyHelper, the government-backed money guidance service.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Survey figures are accurate as at the last updated date and will change as new data is published.
This content is based on publicly available UK financial guidance and trusted sources such as GOV.UK, HMRC, FCA, and MoneyHelper. It is for informational purposes only and not financial advice. Rules and rates may change, so check official sources before making decisions.
