2024
Eurostat
The "Key Figures on European Living Conditions – 2024 Edition" is a publication produced by Eurostat, the official statistical office of the European Union. Released in 2024, it provides crucial insights into the living conditions across the EU, EU member states, and EFTA countries, highlighting key statistical indicators that reflect the socioeconomic landscape of Europe. Key findings from the report reveal that in 2023, the median annual disposable income in the EU stood at 19,955 PPS (purchasing power standards) per inhabitant, showcasing significant disparities among countries. Western and Nordic nations reported the highest income levels, while southern, eastern, and Baltic countries lagged behind. Additionally, 21.4% of the population was at risk of poverty or social exclusion, indicating a slight improvement from the previous year. The publication also addresses pressing issues such as material deprivation and household economic strain. In 2023, 10.6% of EU residents faced challenges in maintaining adequate warmth in their homes, an increase from 2022. Furthermore, 45.4% of households experienced difficulties making ends meet, emphasizing the ongoing economic pressures faced by many citizens. Life satisfaction ratings remained stable at 7.3 out of 10, reflecting a consistent perception of quality of life despite the challenges. This comprehensive report serves as a vital resource for policymakers, researchers, and the general public, offering a detailed analysis of living standards and social conditions in Europe. By leveraging data from EU-SILC surveys, it supports efforts to monitor and address social rights and poverty reduction initiatives across the continent.
This publication titled "Key Figures on European Living Conditions - 2024 Edition" was produced by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, and published in 2024. It presents a selection of key statistical indicators on living conditions in the European Union (EU), EU member states, and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries.
Key findings include:
- In 2023, the median annual disposable income in the EU was 19,955 PPS (purchasing power standards) per inhabitant, with large variations between countries. Western and Nordic EU countries reported the highest levels, while southern, eastern and Baltic countries had the lowest.
- 21.4% of the EU population (94.6 million people) were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2023, a slight decrease from 2022.
- The severe material and social deprivation rate in the EU was 6.8% in 2023, marginally up from 6.7% in 2022. This rate was higher for women (7.2%) than for men (6.5%).
- 45.4% of households in the EU had at least some difficulty making ends meet in 2023.
- In 2023, 10.6% of people in the EU couldn't afford to keep their home adequately warm, up from 9.3% in 2022.
- The average life satisfaction rating in the EU was 7.3 out of 10 in 2023, unchanged from 2018.
- There were large disparities in many indicators between EU countries, between urban and rural areas, and between citizens and non-citizens.
The publication provides data on income distribution, poverty risk, material deprivation, economic strain, household composition, work intensity, childcare, health, disability, and life satisfaction. It aims to offer a comprehensive overview of living conditions in Europe through visualizations and concise text explanations.
The data presented is generally for 2022 or 2023, reflecting recent socioeconomic conditions including high inflation and impacts from the war in Ukraine. The publication draws primarily from EU statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC) surveys.
This report serves as a key resource for policymakers, researchers, and citizens to understand and analyze living standards and social conditions across Europe. It supports monitoring of EU policies and targets related to social rights and poverty reduction.