More than one in four young people in the European Union lived in an overcrowded household in 2025, with the rate considerably higher among younger people than across the population as a whole, according to new Eurostat data.
The EU overcrowding rate for people aged 15 to 29 was 26.9% last year, compared with 16.8% for the total population.
That means the overcrowding rate among young people was 10.1 percentage points higher than the overall EU rate.
The figures highlight significant differences in housing conditions across the EU, with rates among young people ranging from 3.5% in Cyprus to 60.4% in Romania.
Younger people face higher overcrowding rates
Eurostat found that overcrowding was particularly common among the youngest age group.
Among people aged 15 to 19, the overcrowding rate was 30.1%.
It fell to 28.7% among those aged 20 to 24 and to 21.8% among people aged 25 to 29.
The figures suggest that overcrowding becomes less common as young people move into older age groups, although more than one in five people aged 25 to 29 were still living in overcrowded households across the EU.
Romania records highest rate
Romania had the highest overcrowding rate among young people aged 15 to 29, at 60.4%.
It was followed by:
- Latvia — 54.9%
- Bulgaria — 52.8%
- Greece — 48.4%
- Croatia — 46.8%
- Italy — 41.7%
At the other end of the scale, Cyprus recorded the lowest rate at 3.5%, followed by Ireland at 7.4% and Malta at 7.7%.
Ireland among countries with lowest youth overcrowding
Ireland’s 7.4% rate was substantially below the EU average of 26.9%.
Only Cyprus recorded a lower rate among EU countries, while Malta was slightly higher at 7.7%.
However, the Eurostat measure covers overcrowding specifically. It does not measure housing affordability, homelessness, housing costs or the availability of suitable homes.
Ireland’s relatively low overcrowding rate should therefore not be interpreted as an overall measure of housing conditions or housing affordability.
Biggest gaps between young people and total population
The difference between young people’s overcrowding rate and the rate for the population as a whole was particularly large in three EU countries.
In Bulgaria, 52.8% of young people lived in overcrowded households compared with 32.5% of the total population.
In Greece, the figures were 48.4% and 28.3%.
In Romania, 60.4% of young people lived in overcrowded households compared with 40.4% across the total population.
In each of those countries, the gap was at least 20 percentage points.
What counts as an overcrowded household?
Eurostat uses a specific definition when measuring overcrowding.
A household is considered overcrowded when it does not have enough rooms according to the composition of the household.
The calculation takes account of the household as a whole, couples, adults living alone, teenagers and children.
For example, the methodology requires a separate room for the household, a room for each couple, and rooms for individual household members according to their age and household circumstances.
This means the Eurostat indicator is based on the number of rooms available relative to the number and characteristics of people living in the household, rather than a subjective assessment of whether a home feels too small.
Housing conditions vary sharply across Europe
The wide differences between countries show that young people’s housing conditions vary considerably across the European Union.
In Romania, more than six in 10 young people lived in overcrowded households in 2025.
In Cyprus, the figure was fewer than four in 100.
Ireland was also near the lower end of the EU distribution, at 7.4%.
The differences reflect the fact that housing systems, household structures, living arrangements and housing markets vary significantly between EU countries.
Housing pressure remains a wider European issue
Overcrowding is only one part of the housing picture.
Young Europeans can face other pressures, including high rents, difficulty saving for a deposit, limited access to affordable housing and delays in moving into independent accommodation.
M10news has previously examined Europe’s affordable housing models, including public housing, cooperative housing and cost-rental approaches being used in different European cities.
The figures also come as the European Union considers measures aimed at addressing housing affordability and supply. M10news has reported on the proposed EU Affordable Housing Act, which includes measures concerning housing stress, affordable housing and short-term rentals.
A different picture for Ireland
Ireland’s 7.4% youth overcrowding rate stands out against the EU average, but the figure should be considered alongside other housing indicators.
A low overcrowding rate does not necessarily mean that young people face low housing costs or easy access to independent accommodation.
Eurostat’s data measure whether households have the minimum number of rooms required under its statistical definition.
Other measures are needed to understand affordability, rental costs, homelessness and the ability of young people to establish independent households.
The new figures therefore provide one specific measure of housing conditions rather than a complete assessment of the housing situation facing young Europeans.
What the Eurostat figures show
The 2025 data show a clear difference between young people and the population overall.
Key figures:
- 26.9% of EU young people aged 15–29 lived in overcrowded households.
- 16.8% of the total EU population lived in overcrowded households.
- The difference was 10.1 percentage points.
- The rate was 30.1% among 15–19-year-olds.
- It was 28.7% among 20–24-year-olds.
- It fell to 21.8% among 25–29-year-olds.
- Romania recorded the highest rate at 60.4%.
- Cyprus recorded the lowest at 3.5%.
- Ireland recorded 7.4%.
The data provide another measure of the housing conditions experienced by young people across Europe, while also showing how sharply those conditions differ from one country to another.
Source: Eurostat, 29 September 2026.
