Eurostat report highlights disparities in EU living conditions and housing

New data from Eurostat for 2025 reveal significant discrepancies in living standards, income, and housing across the European Union, categorized by urbanization levels. The report indicates that 92.7 million people, or 20.9% of the EU population, were at risk of poverty or social exclusion. This risk was slightly higher in rural areas at 21.4%, followed by 21.0% in cities and 20.4% in towns and suburbs. The index is comprehensive, accounting for income levels, severe material and social deprivation, and low work intensity within households.

Cyprus stands out in the housing sector, specifically regarding under-occupied dwellings. In rural Cyprus, between 71.1% and 72.8% of residents lived in homes with more rooms than needed, significantly exceeding the EU rural average of 41.3%. Only the Netherlands reported a higher figure at 73.3%. This trend places Cyprus among the leading EU nations for under-occupied housing, alongside Ireland and Belgium, whereas the EU average for such under-occupancy across all areas was 33.4%. These findings underscore the varied socio-economic landscape and housing distribution patterns that persist between urban and rural environments within member states.