A new Eurostat report highlights notable contrasts in homeownership patterns across the European Union, with Cyprus standing out in several key areas.
While nearly half of the EU population (48%) lives in apartments, only a quarter of Cypriots do so, placing the island among the Member States with the lowest share of apartment dwellers.
Homeownership in Cyprus remains slightly above the EU average. According to Eurostat, 69.4% of the Cypriot population owned their homes in 2024, compared with the EU average of 68%. The remaining 30.6% of households were renting.
Across the EU, homeownership remains the dominant housing model in every Member State except Germany, where renting is more prevalent. In Germany, 53% of households rent their homes, followed by Austria (46%) and Denmark (39%). Overall, 32% of EU households rent, while 68% own their homes.
The highest levels of homeownership are observed in Romania (94%), Slovakia (93%), Hungary (92%) and Croatia (91%).
Cyprus among EU leaders in house living
Cyprus also ranks among the countries where residents are most likely to live in houses rather than apartments. In 2024, 74% of households lived in houses, the fifth-highest share in the EU. Only 25% lived in apartments. Ireland leads the rankings with 90% house occupancy, followed by the Netherlands and Belgium (both 77%) and Croatia (76%).
Across the EU, 51% of the population lives in houses and 48% in apartments, with the remaining 1% in alternative accommodation such as houseboats or caravans.
Urban vs rural homeownership disparities
Eurostat notes that housing type varies significantly not only between countries but also between urban and rural areas.
In EU cities, apartment living dominates, with 73% of residents in flats and only 27% in houses. Conversely, in rural regions, 83% of the population lives in houses, while just 16% live in apartments.
Countries with the highest proportion of apartment dwellers include Spain (65%), Latvia (64%) and Malta (63%).
A substantial portion of those purchasing outright would be those wealthy individuals who have investments not homes.