Young people in Macedonia leave their parents’ home of 30.7 years, unlike young people in the EU, who leave at an average age 26.3 years.
According to Eurostat data for 2025, young people in Croatia (31.5 years), Greece and Slovakia (both 30.9), as well as Spain and Italy (both 30.2), stay in their parents’ homes the longest. Conversely, they leave earliest in Finland (21.4 years), Denmark (21.8), and Estonia and Lithuania (both 22.7).
In the region, young people in Serbia stay with their parents until the age of 30.1, in Bosnia and Herzegovina until 29.5, and in Bulgaria until 27.9.
Eurostat notes a trend across Europe of young people staying in their parents’ homes for longer periods, linking this to their employment rate.
The employment rate for young people aged 20 to 29 in the EU stood at 65.5% in 2025.
In most countries where the age at which young people leave the parental home is below the EU average, the employment rate for those aged 20 to 29 is above the EU average. For example, in countries where young people tend to leave the parental home earlier—such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, and Sweden—the youth employment rate is higher.
In countries where young people leave the parental home later—such as Greece, Croatia, Spain, and Italy—the employment rate was lower than the EU average. The youth employment in Macedonia rate was 50.2%in 2025.
