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With inequality increasing, taxing the rich is high on the agenda, and the wealthiest individuals are often criticised for contributing less to public finances than ordinary taxpayers.
A recent study commissioned by NGOs Oxfam and Greenpeace found that globally, people in the Philippines are the most supportive of taxing the super-rich.
In turn, this allows for increased government spending on public services and the fight against climate change.
The NGOs are pushing for greater global taxation of the rich to support over 3.7 billion people—nearly half of the world’s population—living in poverty. On the other end of the scale, Oxfam says that the world’s 3,000 billionaires gained $6.5 trillion (€5.5tr) in wealth over the last ten years.
The current survey, which gathered data across political affiliations, income levels and age groups, was carried out in May 2025 in 13 countries including the UK, USA, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
The questions aimed to find out the level of public support for taxing the super-rich in order to enable increased government spending on public services, such as healthcare, schools, and renewable investments, among others.
Among the surveyed European countries, Italy showed the most support across all services. The most popular, supported by 94% of the population, was on taxing the super-rich to enable better healthcare. This gained support from 91% of the population in Spain, 90% in France, 89% in the UK and 85% in Germany.
A similarly popular idea was for governments to close loopholes to stop rich people and international corporations from using tax havens and to use the increased tax income to improve public services. 94% of people surveyed in Italy supported this idea, 91% in the UK, 90% in Spain and in France, and 86% in Germany.
The least popular reasons to collect tax from the super-rich included increased renewable investments and improved insulation for houses. In Germany, 18% of people opposed raising taxes on the super-rich to enable increased government spending on renewable energy, with only 75% supporting the idea. In France, 16% opposed and 79% supported and in the UK, 16% opposed and 80% supported. In Spain, the ratio is 15% vs. 81% whereas in Italy it was 10% and 88%.
Supporting improved housing insulation in this context gained the disapproval of 28% in Germany, 22% in Italy and the UK and 20% in France and Spain.
Another study shows similarly wide support to tax those with more means. According to the latest Eurobarometer survey on taxation, 80% of EU citizens said they would support making large multinational companies pay a minimum tax in every country where they operate. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents would support the introduction of a tax for the wealthiest individuals. Support appeared to be the highest in Hungary (78%), Bulgaria and Croatia (both 71%).
Where in Europe already tax the rich?
According to data from the Washington-based international research think tank Tax Foundation, only a minority of European countries apply taxes on the wealthy.
Net wealth taxes, levied on all wealth an individual owns (net of debt), are applied in Norway, Spain and Switzerland, whereas wealth taxes on selected assets exist in France, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, Oxfam notes that there’s growing momentum behind a G20 proposal to tax the ultra-rich. The proposal would make individuals with more than $1 billion (€860 million) in wealth pay a minimum amount of tax annually, equal to 2% of their wealth.
Spain also showed its dedication to level inequality when, in July, the country joined forces with Brazil and created a new global coalition to tax the super-rich. The countries also called on others to join the discussion and create a progressive global tax system.
“They point to a stark reality: the wealthiest 1% of the global population owns more than 95% of humanity combined,” said the UN, praising the countries’ move.
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