Global Housing Affordability by Country

In 2024, Iceland leads in housing affordability with 87.02% of household income remaining after housing costs, followed by Sweden and Japan. Countries such as Hungary and Slovakia showed significant year-on-year improvements, whereas Iceland and South Africa experienced declines. Over the past five years, consistent growth in affordability has been observed in many European countries like the Czech Republic, while South Africa struggled with a declining trend. Emerging markets like Mexico, although still low, showed positive trends. Variations indicate that while most countries are improving, economic pressures may lead to a decrease in future availability.

Future trends to watch include the impact of economic policies on affordability, potential increases in housing supply, and the influence of interest rates on buying power. Shifts in population demographics and urbanization could also significantly affect affordability dynamics across different regions.