Croats continue to lag behind other Europeans in leaving their parents' home

According to the latest Eurostat data for 2023, young people in the European Union leave their parents' home at the age of 26.3 on average. However, there are significant differences between EU countries. While in some countries young people are already ready for independent life in their early 20s, in other countries that moment comes much later.

The highest average age of leaving the parental home was recorded in Croatia, where young people leave on average only at the age of 31.8. Along with Croatia, Slovakia (31 years), Greece (30.6 years), Spain (30.4 years) and Italy (30 years) have a high average age of leaving the family home.

On the other hand, Scandinavian countries lead the way in terms of the early age of leaving the parental home. In Finland, young people leave at an average age of 21.4, which is the lowest average age in the EU, followed by Denmark (21.8 years) and Sweden (21.8 years). Another country where young people leave their parents' home relatively early is Estonia, with an average age of 22.8 years.

These data indicate social and economic differences, but also cultural habits that influence the decision of young people to stay in their parents' home longer. The data could also be suggesting that north-western Europeans, for the most part, raise adults ready to face the world head-on and accept challenges in life, while in general southern and eastern Europeans infantilize their children and fail to properly prepare them for independent life.

Source: HRT