"One possible reason for such a low number of agents is that it’s not historically been a particularly well-respected profession in the UK which means there’s an element of distrust from the general public"
- Lee O’Brien - iad UK
New research from self-employed estate agency, iad UK, analysed the estimated number of estate agents and the size of the general population in 13 different countries to calculate how many agents each nation has for every 100,000 people.
The data reveals that Switzerland has the highest agent-to-population ratios. With a population of 8.8 million and an estimated agent workforce of 55,002, there are 627 agents per 100,000 people.
Australia has a population of around 26 million and 133,360 estate agents which works out at 513 agents per 100,000 people.
The USA has an estimated 458 agents per 100,000, while Canada has 411.
This is followed by Sweden (241), France (202), Italy (156), UAE, including Dubai (106), and Germany (104).
Meanwhile, the UK, with a population of almost 67 million and an agent workforce of 57,600, has just 86 agents per 100,000 people.
Only three nations on the list have a smaller agent-to-people ratio. They are Belgium (81), China (41), and India (5).
Lee O’Brien, Managing Director of iad UK, says: “The UK has one of the strongest property markets in the world. While it is certainly susceptible to short-term ebb and flow as dictated by wider economic goings-on, it is hardy and resilient in the mid-long term. On top of this, it is globally renowned for its history and transaction rate.
"So why are there so few agents working in what is a busy and immensely valuable industry? At iad UK, we see this as a real opportunity. The industry is under-served and would benefit from an influx of new agents to boost numbers and make it easier for buyers and sellers to find great agents.
"One possible reason for such a low number of agents is that it’s not historically been a particularly well-respected profession in the UK which means there’s an element of distrust from the general public. We think this is incorrect and broadly undeserved. We really hope to play a small part in correcting this reputation by bringing agents to the market who are hyper-focussed on customer service.
"And let’s not forget the tiny commission that most agents can expect to earn in the UK compared to other nations. This isn’t going to do the country any favours when trying to boost agent numbers.”
