Museum, library & zoo prices up by 4% in 2022

In 2022, the prices of museums, libraries and zoological gardens in the EU increased by +4% compared with 2021, up from +3% in 2021 compared with 2020, as measured by the harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP).

During the pandemic year of 2020, the HICP for these cultural goods and services was at a five-year low of +2% compared to the previous year. Before that, the annual rate of change was stable at around +3%. 

Source dataset: prc_hicp_aind

Meanwhile, the annual rate of change for all items within the HICP fluctuated between +1% and +3% between 2018 and 2021 before accelerating to +9% in 2022. The price index for museums, libraries and zoological gardens grew in the EU at a much lower pace than the general inflation.

In 2022, among the EU countries, the highest increases in prices for museums, libraries and zoological gardens were recorded in Poland (+18% compared with 2021), Ireland (+15%) and Lithuania (+14%). 

Source dataset: prc_hicp_aind

At the opposite end of the scale, Malta was the only EU country to record a decrease in the prices of museums, libraries and zoological gardens (-3% compared with 2021). Meanwhile, Luxembourg and Cyprus recorded no change, while the Netherlands, Greece and Portugal recorded a small increase (each +1%). 

This article is being published on the occasion of International Museum Day (18 May), held annually and coordinated by the International Council of Museums.