The risk-free rate is a theoretical rate of return of an investment with zero risk of financial loss. This rate represents the minimum interest an investor would expect from a risk-free investment over a period of time. It is important to remember that the risk-free rate is only theoretical as all investments carry even the smallest of risks. Across European countries, average risk-free rates differed quite significantly.

United Kingdom is low risk and low reward

When average risk-free rates on a theoretical investment with no risk is high, like seen in Turkey and Ukraine, the opportunity for high reward investments must seem tempting. But with high rewards come higher risks. Countries such as the UK and Germany has consistently shown low risk-free rates due to their investment markets’ relative stability.

Market risk premiums

Market risk premiums (MRP) are a measure that is closely associated with average risk-free rates. MRPs are a measurement of the expected return on investment an investor looks to make. For potential investors looking to add to their portfolio, the perfect scenario for a risk-based investment would be a high rate of return with as small a risk as possible. There are three main concepts to MRPs, including required market risk premiums, historical market risk premiums and expected market risk premiums. Like average risk-free rates, MRPs vary quite widely across Europe.

Interactive chart showing the daily 10 year treasury yield back to 1962. The 10 year treasury is the benchmark used to decide mortgage rates across the U.S. and is the most liquid and widely traded bond in the world.

The average risk-free rate (RF) used in Sweden fluctuated between 2015 and 2023. The risk-free rate is a theoretical rate of return of an investment with zero risk. This rate represents the minimum interest an investor would expect from a risk-free investment over a period of time. It is important to remember that the risk-free rate is only theoretical, as all investments carry even the smallest of risks. As of 2024, the risk-free rate in Sweden was *** percent, the highest ratio recorded since 2015.

The yield on US 10 Year Note Bond Yield rose to 4.35% on July 3, 2025, marking a 0.07 percentage point increase from the previous session. Over the past month, the yield has fallen by 0.01 points and is 0.02 points lower than a year ago, according to over-the-counter interbank yield quotes for this government bond maturity. US 10 Year Treasury Bond Note Yield - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on July of 2025.

The average risk-free rate (RF) used in Switzerland fluctuated considerably between 2015 and 2024. The risk-free rate is a theoretical rate of return of an investment with zero risk. This rate represents the minimum interest an investor would expect from a risk-free investment over a period of time. It is important to remember that the risk-free rate is only theoretical, as all investments carry even the smallest of risks. As of 2024, the risk-free rate in Switzerland was *** percent, the highest ratio recorded during this period.

Graph and download economic data for 10-Year Real Interest Rate (REAINTRATREARAT10Y) from Jan 1982 to Jun 2025 about 10-year, interest rate, interest, real, rate, and USA.

Interactive chart showing the daily 1 year treasury yield back to 1962. The values shown are daily data published by the Federal Reserve Board based on the average yield of a range of Treasury securities, all adjusted to the equivalent of a one-year maturity.

Graph and download economic data for Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 20-Year Constant Maturity, Quoted on an Investment Basis (DGS20) from 1962-01-02 to 2025-07-02 about 20-year, maturity, Treasury, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

The average risk free rate (RF) used in Ireland fluctuated between 2015 to 2023. The risk free rate is a theoretical rate of return of an investment with zero risk. This rate represents the minimum interest an investor would expect from a risk free investment over a period of time. It is important to remember that the risk free rate is only theoretical as all investments carry even the smallest of risks. As of 2023, the risk free rate in Ireland was 2.9 percent.

Graph and download economic data for Interest Rates: Long-Term Government Bond Yields: 10-Year: Main (Including Benchmark) for United States (IRLTLT01USM156N) from Apr 1953 to May 2025 about long-term, 10-year, bonds, yield, government, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 5-Year Constant Maturity, Quoted on an Investment Basis (DGS5) from 1962-01-02 to 2025-06-18 about maturity, Treasury, interest rate, interest, 5-year, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 1-Month Constant Maturity, Quoted on an Investment Basis (DGS1MO) from 2001-07-31 to 2025-07-02 about 1-month, bills, maturity, Treasury, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

Interactive chart showing the daily 5 year treasury yield back to 1962. The values shown are daily data published by the Federal Reserve Board based on the average yield of a range of Treasury securities, all adjusted to the equivalent of a five-year maturity.

View values of the average interest rate at which Treasury bills with a 3-month maturity are sold on the secondary market.

The yield on China 10Y Bond Yield rose to 1.64% on July 4, 2025, marking a 0 percentage point increase from the previous session. Over the past month, the yield has fallen by 0.04 points and is 0.62 points lower than a year ago, according to over-the-counter interbank yield quotes for this government bond maturity. China 10-Year Government Bond Yield - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on July of 2025.

The yield on US 30 Year Bond Yield rose to 4.87% on July 3, 2025, marking a 0.05 percentage point increase from the previous session. Over the past month, the yield has fallen by 0.02 points, though it remains 0.33 points higher than a year ago, according to over-the-counter interbank yield quotes for this government bond maturity. United States 30 Year Bond Yield - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on July of 2025.

Up until 2018, the average risk-free rate in Germany remained relatively stable at approximately *** percent. The risk-free rate is a theoretical rate of return of an investment with zero risk. This rate represents the minimum interest an investor would expect from a risk-free investment over a period. It is important to remember that the risk-free rate is only theoretical as all investments carry even the smallest of risks. As of 2024, the risk-free rate in Germany was *** percent. Risk free rates in Europe A higher risk-free rate illustrates that even with a so-called "zero risk" investment, investors would want a higher return because of the countries associated investment risks. In Europe, Ukraine and Turkey were among the countries with relatively higher average risk-free rates in 2024 compared to other European countries. The majority of European countries have RF rates under **** percent in 2024. Market risk premiums Risk free rates reflect market risk premiums (MRP) with Germany displaying low MRP compared to other European countries. Split into three categories (required, historical, expected), market risk premiums measure the rate of return investors expect on an investment over the risk that investment holds. In Europe, average market risk premiums (MRP) sit between five and ten percent. During the last ten years, Germany has seen slight increase in market risk premiums.

Graph and download economic data for Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 3-Month Constant Maturity, Quoted on an Investment Basis (DGS3MO) from 1981-09-01 to 2025-07-02 about bills, 3-month, maturity, Treasury, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

Interactive chart showing the daily 30 year treasury yield back to 1977. The U.S Treasury suspended issuance of the 30 year bond between 2/15/2002 and 2/9/2006.

The yield on Germany 10Y Bond Yield eased to 2.57% on July 1, 2025, marking a 0.03 percentage point decrease from the previous session. Over the past month, the yield has edged up by 0.04 points, though it remains 0.04 points lower than a year ago, according to over-the-counter interbank yield quotes for this government bond maturity. Germany 10-Year Bond Yield - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on July of 2025.