Spain’s Emancipation Hurdle (compared)
Two-thirds (67.1%) of Spanish adults aged 18 to 34 were still living in their parental home in 2025, according to Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) survey ‘Encuesta de Condiciones de Vida‘ (ECV). Among those aged 26 to 34, nearly half (47.3%) say they cannot afford to move out – 34.6% citing unaffordable rent and 12.7% unable to purchase a home, per INE data reported by Idealista.
Meanwhile, 13% of young people in Spain aged between 26 and 34 said they were saving to buy or rent a house, while 23.6% said they had not considered becoming independent and only 1.9% said that, even if they could afford to rent or own a home, they preferred to continue living with their parents.
The Balearic Islands, Madrid, and the Canary Islands experience the highest levels of unsatisfied housing demand, according to Idealista.
Young people in Spain leave home at an average age of 30, Eurostat data shows. This exceeds the average ages in Sweden at 21.9 years, the Netherlands at 23.5 years, and the United Kingdom at 25 years, according to Eurostat. Belgium records an average emancipation age of 26.4 years, Eurostat reports.
The number of young people moving out in the Netherlands fell by 12% during 2025 and 2026, according to the CBS. In the United Kingdom, 3.6 million adults aged 20 to 34 live with their parents, the Office for National Statistics reports. This represents a 10% increase over one decade, according to the ONS. 72% of Belgians aged 25 to 34 believe they cannot buy a home without family assistance, Eurostat indicates.
Social housing accounts for 3% of the total stock in Spain, according to the OECD. The social housing share is 30% in the Netherlands and 17% in the United Kingdom, the OECD reports. Spain maintains higher youth unemployment and more temporary contracts than Belgium or the Netherlands, according to Eurostat. Nordic and Central European states provide more direct subsidies for students and young renters than the Spanish state, according to the OECD. Spanish youth rely on family support systems to manage housing costs.
Housing Market Comparison by Country
| Country | Avg. Age Leaving Home | Social Housing Share | Key Market Trend |
| Spain | 30.0 years | 3% | 47% at home due to costs |
| Netherlands | 23.5 years | 30% | 12% drop in moving out |
| United Kingdom | 25.0 years | 17% | 3.6m adults at parental home |
| Sweden | 21.9 years | High | Longest wait for rentals |
| Belgium | 26.4 years | 7% | 72% require family aid to buy |
