2024
Eurostat
The "Key Figures on European Living Conditions – 2024 Edition" is a comprehensive publication produced by Eurostat, which offers vital statistical insights into the living standards across Europe. Released in October 2024, this report presents a wealth of data pertaining to various socioeconomic indicators that reflect the realities faced by citizens in the European Union (EU), its member states, and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. Among the key findings, the report highlights that in 2023, the median annual disposable income in the EU was 19,955 purchasing power standards (PPS) per inhabitant. A stark disparity exists, with Western and Nordic countries enjoying the highest incomes, while southern, eastern, and Baltic nations lag behind. The document also reveals that 21.4% of the EU population, approximately 94.6 million people, faced the risk of poverty or social exclusion, marking a slight improvement from the previous year. Additionally, the report sheds light on severe material deprivation, which affected 6.8% of the EU population in 2023, with women disproportionately impacted. Economic challenges persist, as 45.4% of households reported difficulties in making ends meet, and an alarming 10.6% of individuals could not afford adequate home heating. With an average life satisfaction rating of 7.3 out of 10, the findings underline the ongoing disparities in living conditions across urban and rural areas, as well as between citizens and non-citizens. This publication serves as a crucial tool for policymakers, researchers, and the general public, offering a detailed overview of living conditions and providing a foundation for monitoring social rights and poverty reduction initiatives within the EU.
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.