Young Adults in Southern and Eastern Europe Are More Likely to Live with Their Parents, Data Shows

The trend of young Europeans living with their parents varies significantly across the continent, with southern and eastern European countries showing the highest rates of co-residence among young adults. According to Eurostat and OECD data, the average age at which young adults leave their parental homes in the European Union is 26. However, this average conceals considerable differences between countries, reflecting cultural, economic, and social factors.

Young adults in Italy, Greece, and Spain have some of the highest rates of living with parents in Europe, according to recent data. Photo: Unsplash

In Nordic countries like Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, young people tend to move out by the age of 21. These countries have the lowest rates of young adults living at home, with all recording less than 20%. By contrast, in Croatia, Slovakia, Greece, Spain, Bulgaria, and Italy, young adults often remain with their parents until at least 30 years of age, demonstrating a stark contrast to their northern counterparts.

Data from the OECD highlights that southern Europe has the highest proportion of young adults living with their parents. In Italy, a striking 80% of people aged 20 to 29 still live at home, making it the country with the highest percentage in this category. Greece follows closely at 78%, with Spain at 77% and Portugal at 76%. These figures reflect not only cultural traditions but also economic factors such as high youth unemployment rates and limited affordable housing.

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In the United Kingdom, the share of young adults living with their parents is 43%, while in the United States, it is slightly lower at 39%. The figures for these English-speaking countries are significantly higher than those in the Nordic region but much lower than in southern Europe.

Italy, in addition to having a high percentage of young people living with their parents, also has one of the highest rates of NEETs (young people aged 15 to 29 who are neither employed, in education, nor training) in the EU, alongside Romania. This reflects economic challenges that contribute to young adults' prolonged stay in the parental home.

These differences across Europe can be attributed to a combination of factors including economic conditions, cultural norms, the availability of affordable housing, and the structure of social safety nets. In southern and eastern Europe, cultural expectations often encourage young adults to remain with their families longer, while in Nordic countries, policies supporting early independence, such as student grants and affordable housing, facilitate earlier departures from the parental home.

Source: Euronews