Housing in Europe – 2024 edition
There are large differences within Europe on how we live in terms of size, kind and quality of housing and whether we own or rent. The evolution of house prices and rents also varies significantly between countries. Housing in Europe – 2024 edition shows figures on many different aspects of housing.
How we live
This section shows data on whether we live in a house or a flat and whether we own or rent. It also includes statistics on the size and quality of housing and last, but not least, on the environmental impact.
In 2023, 10.6% of the EU population could not afford to keep their home adequately warm.
House or flat – to own or to rent
Over two-thirds of people living in EU households, own their home
The distribution of population by tenure status (owner or tenant) differs significantly among the EU countries. In 2023, 69% of the population living in EU , owned their home, while the remaining 31% lived in rented housing. The highest shares of ownership were observed in Romania (96% of the population lived in a household owning their home), Slovakia (94%), Croatia and Hungary (both 91%).
In all EU countries, except Germany, owning was more common. In Germany, renting was somewhat more usual with 52% of the population being tenants. Austria (46%) and Denmark (40%) followed.
Just over half of the EU population lived in a house
The distribution of population by type of housing (house, flat or other) differs among the EU countries. It also varies depending on whether you live in a city, town or suburb, or rural area.
In the EU in 2023, 51.7% of the population lived in a house, while 47.7% lived in a flat (and 0.6% lived in other accommodation, such as houseboats and vans). Houses are most common in two thirds of the EU countries. Ireland (90%) recorded the highest share of the population living in a house, followed by the Netherlands (79%), Belgium and Croatia (both 77%). It should be noted that this includes terraced houses. The highest shares for flats were observed in Spain (66%), Latvia (65%, 2021 data), Malta (63%) and Germany (61%).
In cities, 72% of the EU population lived in a flat and 27% in a house. For towns and suburbs, the proportions were 56% of people living in a house and 43% in a flat, while in rural areas 82% of the population lived in a house and only 17% in a flat.
Size of housing
On average 1.6 rooms per person …
The size of housing can be measured as the average number of per person: there were on average 1.6 rooms per person in the EU in 2023. Among the EU countries, the largest number was recorded in Luxembourg and Malta (2.2 rooms per person), followed by Belgium and the Netherlands (2.1 rooms). At the other end of the scale were Poland (1.1 rooms) and Croatia, Latvia (2021 data), Romania and Slovakia (all with 1.2 rooms on average per person).
… and 2.3 persons per household in the EU
A related indicator is the number of persons per household. There were on average 2.3 persons per household in the EU in 2023. Among the EU countries, this number ranged from 3.1 persons in Slovakia, 2.9 in Poland, 2.7 in Croatia and Ireland down to 2.0 persons in Germany, Denmark and Sweden and 1.9 persons in Finland and Lithuania.
Quality of housing
Around 17% of the EU population lived in an overcrowded home …
The quality of housing can be measured in many ways. One is whether people live in an home. In the EU in 2023, 16.8% of the population were living in such a home, a share which has fallen from 19.1% in 2010.
In 2023, the highest overcrowding rates were observed in Latvia (40.9%), Romania (40.0%) and Bulgaria (34.9%), and the lowest in Cyprus (2.2%), Malta (2.4%) and the Netherlands (3.8%).
… and 33% live in an under-occupied home
The opposite of an overcrowded home is an , meaning that it is deemed too large for the needs of the household living in it. The classic cause of under-occupation is older individuals or couples remaining in their home after their children have grown up and left. In the EU in 2023, a third of the population (33.3%) lived in an under-occupied home, a share which has been fairly stable since 2010.
In 2023, the highest shares of under-occupied homes were recorded in Cyprus (71.3%), Malta (69.2%) and Ireland (66.0%), and the lowest in Romania (7.2%), Latvia (9.8%) and Greece (12.3%).
Around 11% of the EU population did not have the ability to keep the home adequately warm
It is not only the number of people living in a home () which impacts the quality of life, but also the quality of the housing, such as the ability to keep the home adequately warm, a leaking roof, damp walls, floors or foundation, or rot in window frames or floor.
In the EU in 2023, 10.6% of the population did not have the ability to keep the home adequately warm. The highest shares were observed in Spain, Portugal (both 20.8%) and Bulgaria (20.7%), and the lowest in Luxembourg (2.1%), Finland (2.6%) and Slovenia (3.6%).
Regarding a leaking roof, damp walls, floors or foundation, or rot in window frames or floor, 15.5% of the EU population had such a problem in 2023. The highest shares were observed in Cyprus (31.6%), Portugal (29.0%) and Spain (23.0%).
Environmental impact of housing
Greenhouse gas emissions from households for heating and cooling ranged from 27 kg per capita in Sweden to 1 296 kg in Luxembourg
A part of greenhouse gas emissions come from households when burning fossil fuels for heating their homes, preparing warm water, cooking, and air conditioning. This represented 647 kg per capita in the EU in 2022, down from 920 kg in 2010. In 2022, the largest values were observed in Luxembourg (1 296 kg per capita), Belgium (1 220) and Ireland (1 182). On the other hand, the lowest value was found in Sweden (27), followed by Portugal (126) and Finland (147).
A quarter of EU residents, aged 16 or older, lived in dwellings in whose energy efficiency had been improved in the last 5 years
In 2023, 25.5% of EU residents, aged 16 or older, lived in dwellings in which energy efficiency had been improved in the last 5 years, mainly by upgrading of thermal insulation in external walls, roofs, or floors; the replacement of single-glazed windows with double or triple-glazed units; and the installation of more efficient heating systems. The highest shares were observed in the Netherlands (59%), Estonia (47%) and Latvia (37%), and the lowest in Malta (8%), Greece (12%), Spain and Cyprus (both 15%).
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Housing cost
This section contains data on the evolution of house prices and rents since 2010. It also shows whether housing is affordable both in cities and in rural areas.
On average in 2023, EU households spent 19.7% of their disposable income on housing.
Evolution of house prices and rents
House prices up by 48% in the EU between 2010 and 2023
Looking at the trend of house prices (market prices of dwellings purchased by households) in the EU between 2010 and 2023, there was an upwards trend from 2013 to 2022 with particularly large annual increases in 2021 (8.4%) and 2022 (7.8%). In 2023, the prices decreased slightly by 0.3%. In total, there was an increase of 48% between 2010 and 2023. There were increases in 24 EU countries and decreases in 2 over this period (data for Greece not available). The largest increases were observed in Estonia (+209%), Hungary (+191%) and Lithuania (+154%), while decreases were registered in Italy (-8%) and Cyprus (-2%).
Rents up by 22%
There was a steady increase of rents in the EU between 2010 and 2023 – in total 22% during the whole period. There was an increase in all EU countries except Greece (-20%). The largest increases were registered in Estonia (+211%), Lithuania (+169%) and Ireland (+98%).
Inflation: prices up by 36%
Between 2010 and 2023 in the EU, inflation was 36%. During this period, annual inflation was clearly highest in 2022 (9.2%) and 2023 (6.4%). There was inflation in all EU countries during the period 2010-2023, with highest values in Hungary (79%), Estonia (70%), Lithuania (62%) and Romania (61%). The lowest price increases were observed in Greece (17%), Cyprus (20%) and Ireland (22%).
Housing costs between 61% below and 101% above the EU average
Housing costs (including water, electricity, gas and other fuels) compared to the EU average differ significantly between EU countries. The highest housing costs in 2023 compared to the EU average were found in Ireland (101% above the EU average), Luxembourg (86% above) and Denmark (80% above). The lowest, on the other hand, were observed in Bulgaria (61% below the EU average) and Poland (56% below).
Looking at the evolution between 2010 and 2023, housing price levels compared to the EU average have increased in 17 EU countries, decreased in 9 and stayed the same in Poland. The largest increases were observed in Ireland (from 17% above to 101% above the EU average) and Luxembourg (from 155% above to 186% above the EU average) and the largest decreases in Greece (from 8% below to 29% below the EU average), Cyprus (from 8% below to 17% below) and Spain (from 7% above to 2% below).
Construction producer prices up by 52% between 2010 and 2023
The construction producer prices for new in the EU increased by 52% during the period 2010 to 2023. The biggest annual increase of 12% occurred in 2022. These prices increased in all EU countries. The largest rises were observed in Hungary (159%), Bulgaria (136%) and Romania (116%), and the smallest in Greece (3%), Italy and Cyprus (both 24%).
Is housing affordable?
Housing cost overburden highest in cities
With house prices and rents rising, the cost of housing can be a burden. This can be measured by the housing cost overburden rate, which shows the share of the population living in a household where total housing costs represent more than 40% of . In the EU in 2023, 10.6% of the population in cities lived in such a household, while the corresponding rate for rural areas was 7.0%. The highest housing cost overburden rates in cities were observed in Greece (31.0%) and Denmark (23.3%), and the lowest in Cyprus (3.4%) and Croatia (3.5%). In rural areas they were highest in Greece (24.7%) and Malta (17.6%), and lowest in Cyprus (0.7%) and Slovenia (2.5%).
The housing cost overburden was higher in cities than in rural areas in 22 EU countries and lower in 5. The extremes in this difference were Denmark (12.9 , with 23.3% in cities and 10.4% in rural areas) and Malta (-12.1 pp, with 5.5% and 17.6%).
Almost 20% of disposable income dedicated to housing
Another way of seeing whether housing is affordable is by the share of housing cost in total disposable income. On average in 2023, EU households spent 19.7% of their disposable income on housing. This differed among the EU countries, with the highest shares in Greece (35.2%), Denmark (25.9%) and Germany (25.2%).
Looking at those with a disposable income of below 60% of the national median income – people who could be considered as at risk of poverty, the share of housing in disposable income was 38.2% on average in the EU. On the other hand, for those with a disposable income of above 60% of the median income, the share amounted to 16.2%.
Share of people living in households with arrears on mortgage, rent or utility bills at a lower level than in 2010
Arrears on mortgage, rent or utility bills is another indication that housing costs could be too high. Even though house prices have increased during the period 2010 to 2023, the share of people living in households with arrears on mortgage, rent or utility bills in the EU decreased from 12.4% in 2010 to 9.3% in 2023. The shares decreased in 22 EU countries and increased in 5. In 2023, the largest shares were observed in Greece (47.3%), Bulgaria (18.8%), Romania (14.4%) and Cyprus (14.3%), and the smallest in the Netherlands (2.6%), Czechia (2.9%), Belgium (4.6%) and Italy (5.0%).
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Construction
This section focuses on the construction sector and shows the evolution since 2010. It also shows the most built up areas in Europe.
In the EU in 2023, it was 5.6% of GVA.
Construction sector
Gross value added of the construction sector in the EU: 5.6% of GVA
One way of measuring the size of the construction sector is through the (GVA) generated by this economic activity as a share of total GVA. This share was between 5.0% and 5.7% in the EU in the period 2010 to 2023. It was highest at 5.7% in 2010, falling to 5.0% in 2015 to 2017 and then increasing again to reach 5.4% in 2020 to 2022 and 5.6% in 2023.
Among the EU countries, the share of GVA in construction fell in 13 EU countries between 2010 and 2023, with the largest decreases in Cyprus, Spain and Bulgaria, and remained the same in Belgium. Among the 13 EU countries with an increased share of the construction sector during this period, Latvia, Hungary and Croatia showed the highest growth.
In 2023, the EU countries with the largest shares were Slovakia (8.4%), Romania (8.3%) and Lithuania (7.3%), and with smallest Greece (2.1%), Ireland (2.6%) and Malta (4.2%).
Largest number of persons employed in construction in the French capital region
Another way of looking at the size of the construction sector is by analysing the number of of enterprises and the number of persons employed in them among the regions (by ).
In 2022, the highest values were recorded in Île-de-France, the capital region of France, which had 104 000 local units of enterprises in the construction sector with 371 000 persons employed, and Lombardia in Italy (107 000 and 292 000), followed by Cataluña in Spain (80 000 and 221 000). In the 4th places were Zuid-Holland in the Netherlands (77 000 local units of enterprises) and Rhône-Alpes in France (216 000 persons employed).
Investment in housing in the EU: 5.8% of GDP in 2023
In the EU in 2023, 5.8% of GDP was invested in housing. This share differed among the EU countries, ranging from 8.6% in Cyprus, 7.0% in Italy, 6.9% in Germany and 6.4% in France down to 2.2% in Poland, 2.3% in Greece, 2.8% in Bulgaria and 2.9% in Slovenia.
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Built-up areas
Number of dwellings granted building permits in 2022 in the EU decreased by 20%
A building permit is an authorisation to start work on a building project and is the final stage of planning and building authorisations from public authorities. Looking at the number of dwellings for which building permits were granted in the EU between 2010 and 2023, the number increased every year since 2014, except in 2020 (-5%), 2022 (-4%) and 2023 (-20%). Overall, between 2010 and 2023, there was an increase of 5%.
The number of dwellings approved for construction increased in 18 EU countries between 2010 and 2023. They almost quadrupled in Bulgaria (+269%), followed by Ireland (+123%) and Estonia (+117%). The largest decreases were observed in Italy (-50%), Finland (-36%) and France (-27%).
Almost 3% of land in the EU used for residential purposes
So finally, is a large part of the EU made up of residential areas? In 2018 (latest year available), 75% of land in the EU was for agriculture and forestry, while only 2.9% was used for residential housing (including residential gardens).
This average masks substantial differences between the NUTS 2 regions. The largest share of land used for residential areas in the EU was in the German capital region of Berlin (33% of land is used for residential areas) and the German city region of Bremen (31%). On the other hand, in 17 regions, the share was less than 1.0%, with the lowest shares observed in Aragón in Spain (0.2%) and Övre Norrland in Sweden (0.3%).
About this publication
Housing in Europe is an interactive publication released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
Context
In recent years, 2 major events have had an impact on a wide range of social, economic and environmental issues both within the EU and further afield:
- the COVID-19 pandemic and a range of associated containment measures;
- the effects of Russian military aggression against Ukraine.
Information on data
Data in the visualisations are linked directly to the online database up to the reference year mentioned in the title or at the x-axis of each visualisation. The accompanying text was finalised during late November 2024 and reflects the data situation at that moment in time.
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Contact
If you have questions on the data, please contact Eurostat user support.
Copyright and re-use policy
This publication should not be considered as representative of the European Commission's official position.
© European Union, 2024
The reuse policy of European Commission documents is implemented based on Commission Decision 2011/833/EU of 12 December 2011 on the reuse of Commission documents (OJ L 330, 14.12.2011, p. 39).
Except otherwise noted, the reuse of this document is authorised under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0) licence. This means that reuse is allowed provided appropriate credit is given and any changes are indicated.
For any use or reproduction of elements that are not owned by the European Union, permission may need to be sought directly from the respective rightholders. The European Union does not own the copyright in relation to the following elements:
Cover photo: © Anselm Baumgart / Shutterstock.com
How we live: © Audio und werbung / Shutterstock.com
Housing cost: © Worawee Meepian / Shutterstock.com
Construction: © Bannafarsai_Stock / Shutterstock.com
For more information, please consult our page on copyright notice and free re-use of data.
Identifiers
Catalogue number: KS-01-24-002-EN-Q
ISBN: 978-92-68-20481-8
ISSN: 2600-3368
doi:10.2785/5544429
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