The state of ESG in Europe - statistics & facts

Europe has become a global hub for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), leading the way in finance and investments, as sustainability issues increasingly shape policy decisions. Impending pressure to confront climate change, advance social policies, and enhance corporate governance has led to a surge in ESG-focused strategies by investors and industries across Europe. In 2023, global ESG ETF assets have reached a pinnacle of almost 500 billion U.S. dollars.

Leading sustainable funds in Europe by net flow
iShares MSCI USA ESG Enhanced ETF

Largest socially responsible (SRI) ETF in Europe by fund size
iShares MSCI Europe SRI

Leading socially responsible (SRI) ETF in Europe by one-year return
L&G Quality Equity Dividends ESG Exclusions Europe ex-UK

Editor’s Picks
Editor’s Picks
Current statistics on this topic

Financial Services

Leading countries by ESG ranking worldwide 2025

Investment Funds

Most targeted UN SDG of ESG ETFs worldwide 2025, by assets

Financial Services

Published NAPs worldwide 2024, by country and date

Investment Funds

Most sustainable public companies in the U.S. 2024, by climate management score

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Opinion on the future demand for ESG finance among financial institutions in Japan as of October 2024
Premium Statistic Industries with ESG finance demand in Japan 2024
Industries with ESG finance demand in Japan 2024
Industries with demand for ESG finance according to financial institutions in Japan as of October 2024
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Industries where demand for ESG finance is expected to increase according to financial institutions in Japan as of October 2024
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Importance of ESG activities by pharmaceutical companies to patient organizations worldwide as of 2024
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Number of sustainable finance policy regulations introduced in G20 countries and other selected economies worldwide from 2015 to 2025
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Comparison of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores of the 15 largest insurance companies by market capitalization worldwide in 2026, by ESG score provider
Premium Statistic Selected countries by ESG ranking in the Asia-Pacific 2025
Selected countries by ESG ranking in the Asia-Pacific 2025
Selected countries by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ranking in the Asia-Pacific in 2025, by overall ESG score
Premium Statistic Leading countries by ESG ranking worldwide 2025
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Leading countries by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ranking worldwide in 2025, by overall ESG score
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Net cash flow from investing activities of Retail Food Group from 2016 to 2025 (in million Australian dollars)
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Leading ESG ETFs in the U.S. 2024, by one-year return
Leading ESG ETFs in the United States as of November 2024, by one-year return
Premium Statistic Leading ETFs listed in the U.S. 2025, by ESG score
Leading ETFs listed in the U.S. 2025, by ESG score
Leading exchange-traded funds (ETFs) listed in the United States in January 2025, by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) score
Premium Statistic Global ESG ETF assets 2006-2024
Global ESG ETF assets 2006-2024
Global ESG ETF assets from 2006 to November 2024 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Number of ESG ETFs worldwide 2006-2024
Number of ESG ETFs worldwide 2006-2024
Number of ESG ETFs worldwide from 2006 to November 2024 (in billion U.S. dollars)
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Favorite activities of German vacationers in Germany 2025
Favorite activities of Germans on a vacation in Germany in 2025
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Share of Americans investing money in the stock market 1999-2026
Share of adults investing money in the stock market in the United States from 1999 to 2026
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Leading finance apps based on downloads in the Philippines from January to August 2026 (in millions)
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Total turnover of factoring and commercial finance in European Union 2010-2025
Total turnover value of factoring and commercial finance in the European Union from 2010 to 2025 (in billion euros)
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Most popular cerebral activities in the United States as of 2nd quarter of 2026
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Selected countries by ESG ranking in the Americas 2024
Selected countries by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ranking in the Americas in 2024, by overall ESG score
Premium Statistic Selected countries by ESG ranking in Africa and the Middle East 2024
Selected countries by ESG ranking in Africa and the Middle East 2024
Selected countries by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ranking in Africa and the Middle East in 2024, by overall ESG score
Premium Statistic Selected countries by ESG ranking in Europe 2024, by overall score
Selected countries by ESG ranking in Europe 2024, by overall score
Selected countries by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ranking in Europe in 2024, by overall ESG score
Premium Statistic ESG aspects ranked by importance to PE firms in Europe and the U.S. Q4 2024
ESG aspects ranked by importance to PE firms in Europe and the U.S. Q4 2024
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) aspects ranked by level of importance to private equity (PE) firms in selected European countries and the United States in the fourth quarter of 2024
Premium Statistic ESG bond as share of total bond issuance worldwide H1 2024, by country
ESG bond as share of total bond issuance worldwide H1 2024, by country
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) bond as a share of total bond issuance in select countries worldwide in 1st half 2024
Premium Statistic Top ESG segment in PE investment portfolios in Europe and U.S. Q4 2023-Q1 2024
Top ESG segment in PE investment portfolios in Europe and U.S. Q4 2023-Q1 2024
Most prioritized segment of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) among private equity (PE) investment portfolios in selected European countries and the United States from 4th quarter 2023 to 1st quarter 2024
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Portion of PE firms that agree ESG is profitable in Europe and U.S. Q4 2023-Q1 2024
Portion of private equity (PE) firms that agree Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) returns exceed costs in selected European countries and the United States from 4th quarter 2023 to 1st quarter 2024
Premium Statistic Importance of ESG to PE buy side propositions in Europe and the U.S. Q4 2023-Q1 2024
Importance of ESG to PE buy side propositions in Europe and the U.S. Q4 2023-Q1 2024
Importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) to the value creation proposition of buy-side private equity (PE) opportunities in selected European countries and the United States from 4th quarter 2023 to 1st quarter 2024
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Common ethical fashion-related consumption habits 2025
Most commonly adapted fashion-related ethical consumption habits in Japan as of October 2025
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Share of investors who interested in sustainable investing in select regions worldwide in 2026
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Largest ESG ETFs by AUM worldwide 2025
Largest ESG ETFs as of October 10, 2025, based on assets under management worldwide (in billion U.S. dollars)
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Preferred ESG data providers among Institutional investors 2024
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Most popular online activities among internet users in Canada as of March 2026
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Annual turnover of child day care activities in the United Kingdom from 2008 to 2024 (in million GBP)
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Leading sustainable funds in Europe by net flow
iShares MSCI USA ESG Enhanced ETF

Largest socially responsible (SRI) ETF in Europe by fund size
iShares MSCI Europe SRI

Leading socially responsible (SRI) ETF in Europe by one-year return
L&G Quality Equity Dividends ESG Exclusions Europe ex-UK

Key figures

The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "The state of ESG in Europe" and take you straight to the corresponding statistics.

- Most preferred ESG data providers among Institutional investors' in Europe
- MSCI
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Preferred ESG data providers among Institutional investors 2024
- Most preferred split of green bonds versus social Use-of-Proceeds (UoP) bonds by institutional investors' in Europe
- **% Green/**% Social
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Detailed statistics
Institutional investors' preferred split of green versus social UoP bonds Europe 2023
- Portion of European institutional investors that are ESG focused
- **%
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Portion of ESG focused institutional investors worldwide 2024, by currency
- Portion of European institutional investors that actively invest in social bonds
- **%
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Preferred sustainable debt among institutional investors in Europe 2023

- Portion of European investors aged 55 years and over that are concerned about ESG fund mis-selling
- **%
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Extent of concern around ESG fund mis-selling across age groups in Europe 2023
- Portion of European investors that hope for improved ESG investment transparency
- **%
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Top steps viewed by investors as making ESG accessible in Europe 2023
- Portion of French investors that view pornography as a non-ESG sector
- **%
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Top sectors viewed as non-ESG by investors in Europe 2023
- Extent investors in Germany believe ESG ratings provide clarity in decision-making
- **%
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Detailed statistics
Extent investors trust ESG ratings for clarity in selected European countries 2023

- Top ranked ESG country in Europe
- Denmark
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Detailed statistics
Selected countries by ESG ranking in Europe 2024, by overall score
- Top ranked ESG country in the Americas
- Canada
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Selected countries by ESG ranking in the Americas 2024
- Top ranked ESG country in Africa and the Middle East
- Namibia
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Detailed statistics
Selected countries by ESG ranking in Africa and the Middle East 2024
- Top ranked ESG country in the Asia-Pacific
- New Zealand
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Detailed statistics
Selected countries by ESG ranking in the Asia-Pacific 2025