Housing costs hinder family formation for Gen Z and Millennials

A study by Habitat for Humanity, titled ‘A home, but at what cost?’, reveals that housing costs are a significant barrier to family formation globally. Approximately 56% of the world's population views high housing expenses as an impediment to starting a family, a figure that rises to 62% among Millennials and Generation Z.

The research, which surveyed 30,000 people across 22 countries, indicates that 75% of respondents have reduced spending on essential needs such as food and healthcare to afford housing. The study also highlights a connection to mental health, with 35% of participants identifying housing costs as their primary source of stress. Furthermore, 56% of respondents believe their country's housing system is ‘broken’.

Regional disparities are evident in the data. In the United States, 42% of respondents do not expect to ever own a home, while in Canada, that figure reaches 56%. Dissatisfaction is notably higher in low-income nations, such as Ivory Coast (66%) and Ethiopia (63%), compared to the global average of 35%.