Across the European Union, the average age at which young people move out of the family home is 26. But that figure hides a striking regional divide: in Finland, most leave by 21; in Denmark, by 22; in Estonia and Sweden, by 23. At the other end of the scale, Italians, Spaniards, Greeks, and Croats typically stay until they are 30 or older.
The latest data from Eurostat, the EU's statistics agency, shows that the gap between north and south is nearly a decade. While the EU average has remained remarkably stable over the past two decades, the differences between member states are persistent and deeply rooted in economic and cultural factors.
Youth employment and the decision to stay
One obvious explanation is the labour market. In countries where young people leave home later, youth employment rates tend to be lower. Greece, Croatia, Spain, and Italy all sit below the EU average of 65.5% for people aged 15 to 29. Italy has the bloc's lowest youth employment rate at 47.6%, followed by Romania (52%) and Bulgaria (52.7%).
Without a steady income, the prospect of paying rent or a mortgage is daunting. Staying with parents becomes a practical necessity rather than a lifestyle choice.
Southern Europe's path: from family home to owned home
But the picture is more nuanced than simple economics. When southern Europeans do leave, they tend to move directly into homeownership rather than renting. According to the European Housing Trend Report by RE/MAX, the average age of first-time buyers in Spain is 31, in Italy 33, and in Greece 35 – almost exactly the same ages at which young people in those countries leave the parental home.
This pattern contrasts sharply with countries like Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, where renting is far more common and young people often spend years in the rental market before buying. In southern Europe, the cultural preference is to avoid renting altogether, even if it means waiting longer to move out.
The 'parent factor' in home purchases
Another key element is family support. In Greece, 75% of homeowners received help from their parents to buy their home. In Italy and Croatia, the figure is 72%, and in Bulgaria it reaches 78%. This help often comes as a cash gift, an inheritance, or a property that parents already own and pass on.
By contrast, in the UK, France, and the Netherlands, around two-thirds of parents provide no financial assistance for their children's home purchase, according to the same report.
The generational divide is also striking. Gen Z – those born roughly between 1997 and 2005 – are the most helped generation in history, with 74% receiving parental support for their first home. Millennials follow at 68%, and Gen X at 59%.
This suggests that as property prices have risen faster than wages, the ability to buy a home increasingly depends on family wealth. In southern Europe, where homeownership is seen as a key marker of independence, the parental role in financing that step has become almost essential.
The trend also has broader implications. When young adults stay longer, they contribute to household finances but may delay starting families of their own. As Spain's housing gap shows, wages have not kept pace with property prices, making it harder for the young to leave the nest without help.
Meanwhile, the cost-of-living crisis has added further pressure. In Portugal, the government recently unveiled a cost-of-living package but ruled out VAT cuts, a reminder that housing affordability remains a political challenge across the continent.
As Europe debates how to support its younger generations, the question of when – and how – they leave home is more than a personal milestone. It is a reflection of economic opportunity, housing policy, and family solidarity.
