A new report found that the Irish suffered the most during the last financial crash, while the Dutch and Germans actually prospered. In an analysis of the years between 2009 and 2013, European Central Bank (ECB) experts discovered that Irish people were the biggest losers, losing almost €18,500 per person.

Even the Greeks did not lose that much - with a national wealth decline of €17,000, while Spaniards saw wealth dwindle by almost €13,000, as property prices in both countries plummeted.

But in the Netherlands and Germany the wealth per capita grew by about €33,600 and €19,000 respectively, partly due to a boost to financial investments over that time. Stock markets surged in the period, while the Dutch have a comprehensive pensions system.

However, the data was compiled before the recent economic upswing in Spain and Ireland. Household wealth is the value of all the assets owned by a household, less the value of all its borrowings. The crash in property values in Ireland was the main reason for the sharp decline in household wealth there.