When young Europeans leave their parents' home

Eurostat has published fresh data on the age at which EU residents are most likely to start living independently. In 2024, the average is 26.2 years, slightly lower than in 2023 (26.3). There has been little fluctuation since 2002, with a low of 26.1 in 2019 and a high of 26.8 in 2006.

At the same time, the picture varies dramatically by country. In Southern and Eastern Europe, the tradition of staying with parents persists longer: in Croatia young people leave home at an average age of 31.3, in Slovakia - 30.9, in Greece - 30.7. In Italy and Spain, the age is also around 30. At the same time, in Scandinavia, independence comes much earlier: in Finland - 21.4 years, in Denmark - 21.7, in Sweden - 21.9.

Housing costs remain one of the factors influencing the decision to move. In 2024, 9.7% of young people aged 15-29 spent 40% or more of their income on housing. By comparison, this figure was lower among the general population at 8.2%. Greece (30.3%) and Denmark (28.9%) had the highest burden, significantly higher than the Netherlands (15.3%), Germany (14.8%) and Sweden (13.5%). At the other pole were Croatia (2.1%), Cyprus (2.8%) and Slovenia (3.0%).

Interestingly, countries where young people leave home early - Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Finland - show higher levels of housing overload. Where young people stay with their parents longer - for example, in Croatia or Italy - there is less pressure on incomes to pay for housing. The exception is Greece: despite the late move, housing there remains expensive for young people.

Thus, the statistics confirms: the choice of time to start independent life in Europe is closely connected not only with cultural traditions, but also with economic reality. Where housing is more affordable, it is possible to stay longer with parents "out of habit", while where it is customary to leave early, high costs become an additional challenge for young people.