Eurostat data shows high rates of youth living with parents in the Balkans

New Eurostat data reveals a significant economic and cultural divide in Europe regarding youth independence. While young people in Northern Europe, such as those in Finland (4%) and Sweden (7%), frequently move out of their parental homes early, young adults in the Balkans and Southern Europe remain living with their parents at much higher rates.

In the Balkan region, Montenegro reports that 69% of individuals aged 25 to 34 still live with their parents, followed closely by North Macedonia (67%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (66%), and Serbia (64%). Croatia also shows high rates at 55%. In contrast, the average age for leaving the parental home in the EU is 26.3, whereas in Croatia, it is 31.5.

This trend is attributed to a combination of economic pressures and social habits. In Southern and Southeastern Europe, high unemployment rates, unstable employment, and rapidly rising real estate and rental prices make financial independence difficult. In Croatia, property prices rose by 12.7% in the second quarter of the year, often outpacing local wage growth and making bank credit inaccessible for many young adults.