2024
Eurostat
The "Key Figures on European Living Conditions - 2024 Edition" publication by Eurostat presents vital statistical indicators on living conditions across the EU and EFTA countries. Key findings from 2023 include a median annual disposable income of 19,955 PPS per inhabitant, with significant disparities between regions. Approximately 21.4% of the EU population, or 94.6 million people, faced the risk of poverty or social exclusion, while 45.4% of households reported difficulties in making ends meet. The severe material deprivation rate slightly increased to 6.8%, with higher rates among women. Notably, 10.6% of individuals could not afford adequate home heating. The average life satisfaction rating remained stable at 7.3 out of 10. This report serves as an essential resource for policymakers and researchers to assess living standards and monitor social rights and poverty reduction initiatives in Europe.
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.