Romania shows lowest home under‑occupation but highest vacation unaffordability in EU

Eurostat data reveals that only 8.1% of Romanian households live in under‑occupied homes, the lowest share across the European Union where the average is 33.4%. Under‑occupation refers to dwellings with more rooms than needed, a phenomenon more common in western EU nations and uncommon in Eastern and Southeast Europe.

At the same time, 61% of Romanians cannot afford a one‑week vacation, the highest proportion among EU members. The EU average for vacation unaffordability is 28%, with Luxembourg (11%), Sweden (12%) and the Netherlands (13%) reporting the lowest shares.

These contrasting statistics highlight Romania’s limited housing surplus but significant constraints on disposable income for leisure travel.