European Home Ownership Rates Show Romania, Slovakia, Hungary Lead with Over 90% Ownership

A new map of Europe, compiled by The World in Maps using Eurostat’s EU‑SILC survey, displays the share of households that own their homes. The latest data reveal that Romania, Slovakia and Hungary have the highest home‑ownership rates, each exceeding 90 %. In contrast, Switzerland (42 %) and Germany (47 %) have the lowest ownership percentages, reflecting their heavily regulated rental markets and strong tenant protections, a pattern also seen in Austria.

Home ownership is a key indicator of household wealth and economic security, influencing inequality across the continent. While owning a home can limit labor mobility, it also provides a financial cushion during economic instability. The map simplifies diverse national contexts into a single percentage, omitting variations by age, income, region and urban versus rural settings.