European Household Expenditure on Housing Rentals by Country

In 2024, European household expenditure on housing rentals relative to GDP shows significant variance among countries. The UK leads with 4%, followed by Sweden at 3.9%, and Germany at 3.4%. Denmark and Finland also exhibit high relative expenditures, with 3.3% and 3.1%, respectively. Belgium, Iceland, and the Netherlands range between 2.5% to 2.8%. France and Austria are somewhat lower at 2.4% and 2.1%. Southern and Eastern European countries like Portugal, Estonia, and Greece show lower expenditures, typically around 1.3% to 2%. Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Hungary represent the lowest range, between 0.2% to 0.6%.

Recent year-on-year variations from 2023 highlight notable shifts. Estonia saw a significant increase (14.87%), while Bosnia and Herzegovina decreased substantially (-5.59%). Most countries experienced minor fluctuations around zero, while the year-on-year decrease in Denmark (-1.73%) and Greece (-2.89%) contrasts with growth in Norway (2.38%) and Belgium (0.73%).

Future trends to watch include rapid changes in Eastern European countries as they catch up with Western Europe in rental expenditures. High growth in Estonia and Latvia may signal broader regional shifts. In contrast, the UK, leading in current expenditure, may stabilize or see modest changes. Economic policies and market regulations across different nations will additionally influence future trends.