Only 1.5% of Bulgarians Experience Housing Challenges

In 2023, around 4.9 percent of residents aged 16 and older in the European Union reported experiencing housing difficulties, defined as lacking a permanent home and relying on temporary accommodation. This data was released by Eurostat, highlighting a significant disparity among those at risk of poverty or social exclusion, with 8.5 percent experiencing similar issues. Conversely, only 3.9 percent of individuals not at risk of poverty reported facing housing challenges.

Bulgaria ranks fifth among EU nations with the lowest percentage of its population facing housing difficulties, with only 1.5 percent reporting such issues last year. This places Bulgaria after Slovakia (1.3 percent), Italy (1.2 percent), and Poland and Hungary (both at 0.8 percent). In stark contrast, Cyprus (11.2 percent), Finland (10.8 percent), and Denmark (9.4 percent) have the highest rates of housing difficulties.

Among those at risk of poverty or social exclusion, Denmark leads with 18.4 percent experiencing housing difficulties, followed by Finland at 17.5 percent and France at 17.1 percent. On the other hand, Poland (1.9 percent), Italy (2 percent), and Hungary (2.1 percent) report the lowest rates for this group.

The age groups of 16-29 and 30-54 reported the highest levels of rent payment difficulties, at 14.8 percent and 14.7 percent, respectively. In contrast, the percentage declines for the 55-64 age group (12.8 percent) and those aged 65 and above (6.7 percent).