Figures from the Central Statistics Office show that households' net financial assets dropped by 31% last year, and have fallen by 42% since a peak in 2006.
Net financial assets measures the gap between assets - such as savings, shares, life insurance and pension fund assets - and liabilities, mainly loans. The figure fell by just over €36 billion last year to €81.2 billion.
The CSO says the drop was mainly due to the big decline in the value of shares and pension funds. It adds that households wealth has fallen even further in the last two years because of the fall in property prices, which are not included in these figures.
The report also shows that the Government's liabilities outweighed its financial assets by €20.7 billion last year. Assets and liabilities were broadly similar in 2007.
