site.btaYoung Bulgarians Leave Parents' House at Average Age of 28.2 Years in 2024

In 2024, young people in the EU left their parents’ house at an average age of 26.2 years, slightly down from 26.3 years in 2023, Eurostat reported on Friday. In Bulgaria, that age was 28.2 years in 2024.

Since 2002, the average age across the EU has fluctuated mildly between a low of 26.1 years in 2019 and a high of 26.8 years in 2006.

The highest average ages for leaving the parental home, at 30 years or above, were in Croatia at 31.3 years, Slovakia at 30.9, Greece at 30.7, Italy at 30.1, and Spain at 30. In contrast, the lowest average ages were registered in Finland at 21.4 years, Denmark at 21.7, and Sweden at 21.9.

Bulgaria's age of 28.2 years in 2024 is lower than 2023's average of 30 years, which also saw a decline from the previous year's average of 30.3 years.

At a time when housing costs are under constant public debate, data shows that young people are somewhat more affected by housing costs. In 2024, 9.7% of young people (aged 15-29) in the EU lived in households that spent 40% or more of their disposable income on housing (housing cost overburden rate), while the same percentage for the total population was 8.2%.

In Bulgaria, the housing cost overburden rate was 8% for the total population compared to 7.7% for young people.