Greece ranks first in housing burden in the European Union, according to the new interactive edition Housing in Europe – 2025 by Eurostat, which provides comparable data on housing across all member states.
It should be noted that, although the overall level of housing prices in Greece is 29% below the EU average, Greek households spend a proportionally higher share of their income on housing and also record the highest rates of overdue payments for rent and utility bills.
Greece: First in Housing Burden in Cities and Rural Areas
At the core of the report is the housing burden indicator—the percentage of the population living in a household where total housing costs (rent or mortgage, utilities, heating) exceed 40% of disposable income.
In EU cities, nearly 10% of the population lives under such a burden. In Greece, this figure rises to 29%, the highest in Europe. In rural areas, the EU average is 6%, while Greece again leads with 28%, followed by Germany at 11%.
Practically, whether in urban or rural areas, more than one in four residents in Greece lives under extreme housing pressure.
36% of Income for Housing – Double the Burden for the Poorer Households
Eurostat also examines the share of disposable income spent on housing.
On average, EU households spend 19% of their income on housing. In Greece, the figure reaches 36%, the highest in Europe, with Denmark following at 26% and Germany and Sweden at 25%. Conversely, Cyprus has the lowest share, at just 11% of disposable income.
For households considered at risk of poverty (income below 60% of the median), the burden is even greater. Across the EU, housing absorbs an average of 37% of their income, compared to 16% for households above the poverty threshold, highlighting a clear affordability gap.
Leading in Overdue Payments
Housing pressure is reflected not only in income share but also in the ability to meet obligations.
In 2024, 9% of EU residents lived in households with overdue mortgage, rent, or utility payments. In Greece, the share reaches 43%, the highest in the Union and nearly five times the EU average. Bulgaria follows at 19% and Romania at 15%. The lowest rates are recorded in the Czech Republic (3%), the Netherlands, and Poland (4%).
Comparing with 2010, while the EU average of households with overdue payments fell from 12% to 9%, in Greece it rose from 31% to 43%, making the country a negative outlier in a general European trend of improvement.
Energy Poverty and Housing Quality
The report also highlights energy poverty.
In the EU, 9% of the population reports being unable to adequately heat their home. Greece again leads, along with Bulgaria, with 19% of the population unable to ensure sufficient heating.
Regarding under-occupancy (homes larger than needed), Greece records 13%, one of the lowest in the EU, while Cyprus reaches 70% and Ireland 67%. This indicates that Greek homes are generally more “tight” and less spacious for their inhabitants.
Contradiction: Lower Prices, Higher Burden
A key finding of the report is the contradiction between housing prices and actual household burden.
In terms of housing prices (rent, bills, heating), Greece is 29% below the EU average, yet it records the highest housing burden and highest rate of overdue payments.
This discrepancy is linked both to the lower disposable income of Greek households and the structure of the housing market, where the burden disproportionately falls on renters and economically vulnerable groups.
Construction and Investment: Limited Capacity
Eurostat also captures the supply side.
The construction sector accounts for 5.5% of EU GDP, while in Greece it is limited to 2.2%, one of the lowest in the Union. Housing investment represents 5.3% of EU GDP, while in Greece it does not exceed 2.6%, again placing the country at the lower end.
Meanwhile, building permits for residential housing in the EU increased marginally by 5% between 2010 and 2024, with large disparities among countries. The gradual decline after 2021 indicates that the supply of new housing is not consistently meeting market needs.
The European Context and the Greek Particularity
The Housing in Europe – 2025 report is not a political document but a tool of statistical evidence. However, its findings serve as a mirror of each country’s policy choices.
In Greece, the picture is clear:
The country has among the lowest housing prices compared to the EU average.
At the same time, it exhibits the highest housing burden, the highest rates of overdue payments, and significantly increased energy poverty.
The construction sector and housing investment remain relatively weak compared to the rest of Europe.
The new Eurostat report sends a clear message to public policy and the market: the housing problem in Greece is not only a matter of “expensive rents”, but also a matter of income structure, investments, and energy policy, at a time when housing is becoming a critical social and developmental issue across Europe.
