More than two-thirds (68%) of households in the European Union (EU) owned their home, according to new data from Eurostat, with the remaining 32% living in rented housing.
According to an analysis of 2024 data, Romania had the highest homeownership population, with 94% of people living in an owner-occupied residence. Other EU countries with high levels of ownership included Slovakia (93%), Hungary (92%), Croatia (91%), and Hungary (90.5%). Germany was the only EU country where tenants (53% of the population) were in greater numbers than homeowners.
Across the EU in 2024, 51% of the population lived in a house, with 48% living in a flat and 1% living in other accommodations such as houseboats and vans. Houses are most common in two-thirds of the EU countries, with Ireland recording the highest share of a house-based population (90%) while apartment living was more prevalent in Spain (65%), Latvia (64%), and Malta (63%).
As for home prices, the EU saw a 53% increase between 2010 and 2024. All EU countries except Italy and Cyprus recorded home price increases, with the greatest hikes recorded in Hungary (+231%), Estonia (+228%), and Lithuania (+179%). Rents were also on the rise between 2010 and 2024 – a 25% increase. All EU countries except Greece (-16%) experienced rising rental housing costs, with he largest increases were registered in Estonia (+208%), Lithuania (+177%), Ireland (+108%) and Hungary (+107%).
