The Number of Irish Adults Living with Parents Appears to be in Decline
The Number of Irish Adults Living with Parents Appears to be in Decline
Text: Izzy Copestake
The statistics are moving in the right direction, but the level of Irish adults living with their parents is still well above the EU average.
A new report from Eurostat has revealed that the proportion of Irish adults living with their parents is in decline. The 2025 figures show that 61.7% of 18 to 34-year-olds lived at home, down from 64% in 2022.
The EU average for this age group currently stands at 50.1%, meaning Ireland remains significantly above it.
The number of young people in Ireland still living at home is high compared to the EU average. This lack of physical independence is often seen as emblematic of Ireland’s housing crisis, driven by soaring rents, high house prices and a shortage of supply.
In other parts of Europe, particularly in Mediterranean and Balkan countries, intergenerational living is more culturally ingrained, which helps explain consistently higher figures. In Ireland, however, this is not typically the case. Instead, the proportion tends to reflect housing conditions, falling to as low as 42.4% when the market has been more favourable for renters and buyers. This level of fluctuation is far less pronounced in southern and eastern Europe.
How accurate are these statistics?
Analysis from The Irish Times has pointed out that “the statistics somewhat disadvantage Ireland”, as Eurostat classifies third-level students who are financially supported by their parents as living with them, even if they are residing elsewhere. Ireland also has the highest rate of third-level education enrolment in the EU, which may further skew the figures.
Despite these caveats, the recent decline may point to some improvement. Housing supply has begun to increase, rent growth has slowed, and house price inflation is no longer rising at the same pace. Government supports for buyers have also expanded, while mortgage rates have come down.
For now, the trend is moving in the right direction, but whether it continues will depend on how those conditions hold.
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