2024
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The "Housing in Europe – 2024 edition" is a comprehensive interactive publication by Eurostat that delves into the multifaceted aspects of housing across the European Union. It aims to provide essential insights into housing conditions, ownership rates, and affordability, highlighting the stark contrasts between different EU member states. This report is part of Eurostat's ongoing initiative to monitor and analyze housing trends, serving as a vital resource for policymakers and researchers. One of the key findings reveals that approximately 69% of the EU population lived in owner-occupied homes in 2023, with Romania boasting the highest ownership rate at an impressive 96%. In contrast, Germany stands out with a higher proportion of renters, where 52% of the population are tenants. This variation illustrates the diverse housing landscapes within the EU. The publication also explores the types of housing prevalent across the region, noting that just over half of the population resides in houses, while nearly 48% live in flats. Additionally, it highlights issues of overcrowding, which affects about 17% of the population, alongside the challenge of under-occupied homes, which encompass around 33%. Affordability remains a pressing concern, consuming an average of 19.7% of EU households' disposable income, particularly in urban areas. The report further emphasizes the rising trend of energy efficiency improvements in housing, with significant progress noted over the past five years, indicating a growing awareness of environmental impacts within the sector.
The "Housing in Europe – 2024 edition" is an interactive publication by Eurostat, providing comprehensive insights into various aspects of housing across the European Union. The report highlights significant differences in housing conditions, ownership rates, and affordability across EU countries.
Context and Authors
This publication is part of Eurostat's ongoing efforts to monitor and analyze housing trends in Europe. Eurostat is the statistical office of the European Union, responsible for providing high-quality statistics on the EU and its member states. The report is likely compiled by a team of statisticians and researchers within Eurostat.
Key Findings
- Ownership and Tenure: In 2023, about 69% of the EU population lived in owner-occupied homes, with Romania having the highest ownership rate at 96%. Germany was an exception, where renting was more common, with 52% of the population being tenants.
- Type of Housing: Just over half of the EU population lived in houses, while about 48% lived in flats. Houses were more common in rural areas, while flats dominated urban landscapes.
- Housing Size and Quality: The average number of rooms per person was 1.6 across the EU, with significant variations between countries. Overcrowding affected about 17% of the population, while about 33% lived in under-occupied homes.
- Affordability and Costs: Housing costs consumed an average of 19.7% of EU households' disposable income. The cost burden was higher in cities, with Greece and Denmark experiencing the highest housing cost overburden rates.
- Environmental Impact: There was a notable increase in energy efficiency improvements across the EU, with about 25.5% of residents living in dwellings that had seen such upgrades in the past five years.
- Construction Sector: The construction sector contributed 5.6% to the EU's Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2023, with significant regional variations.
Publication Details
The report was published in 2024, reflecting data primarily from 2023 and trends observed over the past decade. It serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and anyone interested in understanding the complex landscape of housing in Europe.