cypriots — Young adults in Cyprus typically leave the family home at an average age of 27.2, marking them as some of the oldest in Europe to do so, according to data from Eurostat. This places Cyprus in a notable position within the EU, where the average age for leaving home varies widely across different countries.
Cypriots: Comparative Age Trends Across Europe
Cyprus ranks among the countries with the latest average ages for young people moving out, trailing only Croatia, where the average is 31.3 years, and Slovakia and Greece, with averages of 30.9 and 30.7 years, respectively. In contrast, Scandinavian nations reflect a different trend, with young Swedes leaving home as early as 21.9 years, followed closely by Danes at 21.7 and Finns at 21.4.
Housing Costs and Young Adults
The Eurostat data highlights that young people aged 15 to 29 are increasingly burdened by housing costs. Approximately 9.7 per cent of them spend 40 per cent or more of their income on housing, compared to 8.2 per cent of the general population. This financial strain varies significantly across the EU, with Greece experiencing the highest rate of housing cost overburden at 30.3 per cent, followed by Denmark at 28.9 per cent.
Contrasting Situations in Cyprus
In Cyprus, however, only 2.8 per cent of young people face severe housing cost burdens, placing it among the countries with the lowest rates in the EU. This statistic suggests that lower housing costs may be linked to the later age at which young adults leave home. While many Cypriots stay under their parents’ roofs longer, they do so in a context where housing remains relatively affordable.
Broader Implications for Young Adults
The tendency for young people to remain at home longer in Cyprus and some other countries correlates with a lower incidence of housing cost overburden. This relationship indicates that while delayed independence may offer financial relief in terms of housing, it also raises questions about the social implications of prolonged dependency on parental support.
In contrast, Greece’s situation illustrates a complex dynamic: despite young adults leaving home later, they grapple with high housing costs, creating a challenging environment for financial independence.