Young people living at home graphic — Click here for a full-size version of the graphic. Graphic by Paul Scruton. Photograph: Graphics

Europe's young adults living with parents - a country by country breakdown

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A major European survey has found that almost half of 18-29 year olds are still living with their parents, with young men most likely to find themselves living at home

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The proportion of young adults in Europe living with their parents rose to 48% in 2011 - up from 44% in 2007 - with young men most likely to find themselves living at home, according to findings from a major EU survey to be published on Tuesday.

The report, based on results from the European Quality of Life Survey (a representative survey of those aged 18 and over in Europe conducted every four years) also found that deprivation had increased for young people of all social backgrounds since 2007 in nearly all EU countries, especially for those living in extended families with their parents and their own children.

The data from Eurofound, the EU research agency specialising in living and working conditions, reports that the proportion of 18-29 year olds living with their parents rose from 44% in 2007 to 48% in 2011 with especially large increases in some EU countries. Hungary recorded the largest increase - up 36 percentage points, followed by Slovenia (up 21 percentage points) and Lithuania (up 17 percentage points).

The survey found that around 60% of young people in employment lived either alone or with a partner and/or children, while a third lived with their parents. In 2011, over two-thirds of young unemployed adults lived with their parents, which Eurofound say hasn't changed significantly since 2007. However, the authors found that inactive young adults were more likely to live with parents in 2011 than before the recession, especially if they have their own family.

The Eurofound report also highlights the proportion of households in the EU experiencing serious deprivation. According to the survey findings, 22% of young people said they cannot afford to keep their house warm or buy new clothes instead of second-hand.

The proportion of 18-29 year olds experiencing serious deprivation has increased by 6 percentage points since 2007. The greatest increases were seen in Spain (up 20 percentage points), Cyprus (up 18 percentage points), Portugal (up 17 percentage points) and Greece (15 percentage points).

The report also found that young people living in larger households (such as those living both with their parents and their partner and/or children) are the most likely to experience a high level of deprivation, which Eurofound claim suggests "that – for some – such living arrangements may be involuntary, and be a result of the economic crisis."

Other findings from the report are:

Unemployed and inactive young people are more likely to feel socially excluded, lonely and to experience lower levels of mental well-being
Nearly half of all young people in the EU live in households experiencing some form of deprivation
Waiting time was the most common reason stated by young people for difficulty accessing healthcare. Delay in getting an appointment, finding the time to go to the doctor due to work or care responsibilities and cost were also common issues reported by young people across Europe.