Financial stress is widespread in all Baltic countries, but it is most acute in Estonia.
According to survey data, about one third of residents in Estonia (31%) experience regular stress or anxiety about money — weekly or even daily — while in Latvia and Lithuania this figure is significantly lower — 23% and 21%, respectively.
At the same time, for a significant portion of society in all three countries, financial stress is not constant but arises periodically and is closely related to specific life situations. Respondents often note that worries about money appear from time to time — for example, once a month or several times a year.
The survey results also revealed noticeable differences between specific population groups. In all Baltic countries, women are more likely than men to admit that they experience financial strain.
This trend is particularly pronounced in Estonia, where 36% of women reported regular stress (daily or weekly) compared to 26% of men.
In Latvia, about 26% of women and 20% of men experience regular stress related to money, while in Lithuania the figures are 22% and 19%, respectively.
Age also plays a significant role. The highest levels of financial stress are characteristic of people in their active life period — aged 30 to 49 — when they have to tackle several important financial tasks simultaneously: acquiring housing, family expenses, and saving for the future.
In the youngest age group (18–29 years), financial stress is more episodic. Among older individuals, a more pronounced contrast is observed: some hardly experience financial stress, while others face it very frequently.
According to the survey data, very few people do not experience stress about money at all, especially in Latvia and Estonia — less than 10%. In Lithuania, this number is slightly higher — 17%.
At the same time, financial stress is less common in rural areas than in large cities, especially in the capitals.
