€5,000 at birth: what it could be worth at 70
Put €5,000 into a broad index fund the day a child is born, add nothing more and never touch it. Here is what time alone can do.
At 70, from €5,000 at birth
€661,958
Before inflation. About €117,533 in today’s money, if prices rise 2.5% a year.
Before inflation, growing 7% a year
How it grows
| Age | Put in | Worth | In today’s money |
|---|---|---|---|
| At age 18 | €5,000 | €17,563 | €11,261 |
| At age 30 | €5,000 | €40,582 | €19,347 |
| At age 50 | €5,000 | €163,902 | €47,686 |
| At age 70 | €5,000 | €661,958 | €117,533 |
Why it grows this much
At 7% a year, money doubles roughly every 10 years. €5,000 becomes about €10K by age 10, €20K by 20 and keeps doubling from there.
Most of the growth comes at the very end: the last 10 years alone add €333K, more than the first 50 years together.
That is why the starting date matters more than the amount. The same €5,000 given at 30 would be worth €82K at 70.
Questions people ask
Is 7% a year realistic?
Broad world stock indices have grown roughly 8 to 9% a year before inflation over long periods: the MSCI World index (developed markets, dividends reinvested, in US dollars) returned about 8.5% a year from the end of 1987 to April 2025, according to MSCI. Single years swung widely and nothing is guaranteed for the future. 7% is a cautious figure for an illustration; the calculator lets you try other rates.
What does “in today’s money” mean?
Prices rise over time, so the same money buys less later. We divide the future amount by 2.5% inflation a year to show what it would buy today.
Are fees and tax included?
No. Fund fees and tax on gains lower the result; you can switch both on in the calculator to see by how much.
More examples
See all worked examples- €5,000 at birth: what it is worth at 18See the example
Worth about €17,563 on the 18th birthday at 7% a year.
- Saving for a child: €100 a month from birth to 18See the example
About €43,072 by the 18th birthday at 7% a year.
- Start at 25 or at 35? €100 a month until 65See the example
Starting at 25 ends with about €262,481 at 65, more than twice the later start.
- €5 a day for 30 years: what a skipped soft drink becomesSee the example
About €185,537 after 30 years at 7% a year.
Illustration only, not investment advice. It assumes a steady 7% a year and 2.5% inflation; real markets go up and down, and fees and tax lower the result. Check the rules for accounts in your country.