Mamma Mia, still home? A lighthearted tour of Europe’s boomerang generation

Ah, Europe – a continent of ancient castles, fine cheeses, and, as this map shows, a significant number of young adults still living with their parents across many countries. According to the latest data from Eurostat and visualised brilliantly by Voronoi, roughly 30% of EU adults aged 25–34 are still nestled in the family nest. But as the map shows, this average is just the tip of a very cozy, very continental iceberg.

Albania leads the charts with a whopping 66% of young adults still living at home. Close behind are Montenegro (69%), Croatia (64%), and Italy (50%), where the idea of moving out before your 40s might get you side-eyed by Nonna.

On the other end of the independence scale, we have Denmark and Finland (both at 4%), where living with your parents after 25 might raise more eyebrows than showing up to a dinner party without taking off your shoes. Sweden and Norway hover around a cool 7–8%, which begs the question: are they really that efficient, or are their IKEA sofas just that uncomfortable?

What’s driving the trend?

The clichés are tempting (Mama’s cooking, anyone?), but the real story is more complex.

Housing affordability, especially in major cities like Rome, Madrid, and Athens, is a serious barrier for young adults. According to EU housing data, many young workers simply can’t afford to rent a one-bedroom flat without sacrificing groceries – or joy.

Then there’s youth unemployment, which still lingers in double digits in parts of southern Europe. Add in strong family bonds, late marriage trends, and a splash of “why rush?” philosophy, and you get a culture where staying home is often seen as practical, not regressive.

Economist Julia van der Meer explains:

“In countries where intergenerational living is culturally normalized, it can actually be economically strategic. Young adults contribute to the household and often save for longer-term goals like home ownership, which is increasingly out of reach in many urban areas.”

From Schnitzels to Siestas: a continental comparison

Let’s playfully imagine a European dinner party where each country brings its young adults.

• Germany’s 14% living-at-home crowd arrives early, politely, and with a spreadsheet of their rent payments.
• Spain’s 48% show up fashionably late – because their mom reminded them when to leave.
• France (16%) brings wine and a confident shrug,
• Greece’s 54% contingent jokes about turning their childhood bedroom into a podcast studio.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands (11%) awkwardly mentions they haven’t lived with their parents since age 18, causing Croatia (64%) to choke on a burek.

Shifting Notions of independence

At the heart of this data is a question of values: what does it mean to be “independent”?

In many northern countries, it’s defined by physical space. In others, it’s emotional, financial, or even practical interdependence.

As the cost of living rises and remote work reshapes what adulthood looks like, the old “move-out-by-25” benchmark is becoming increasingly outdated. And maybe, just maybe, having someone around who knows how to fix the boiler isn’t such a bad thing.

Whether you’ve left the nest or still enjoy the occasional folded laundry and fridge full of leftovers, let’s agree on one thing: home is where the Wi-Fi automatically connects.

Sources:

• Eurostat – Share of young adults living with their parents
• Voronoi – Map of Young Adults Living with Their Parents in Europe (2024)

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