Map of The Most Common Type of Home in Europe

Map created by LandgeistThe map displays the most common types of homes in different European countries.

The types of homes are categorized into three groups:

1. Detached houses
2. Semi-detached or terraced houses
3. Flats

The color coding indicates the most prevalent type of housing in each country, with further differentiation showing if more than 50% of homes fall into that category.

Analysis of Housing Preferences:

1. Detached Houses:
   • Prevalent in Eastern Europe:
     • Countries such as Poland, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and others in Eastern Europe predominantly feature detached houses. Also the most common type in Norway and Denmark.
     • Reasons:
       • Historical and Cultural Factors: Historically, many Eastern European countries have traditions of single-family homes with gardens or small plots of land.
       • Urban Development: Lower population densities and different urban development models have supported the prevalence of detached homes.
2. Semi-Detached or Terraced Houses:
   • Common in the UK and the Netherlands:
     • The UK and the Netherlands show a preference for semi-detached or terraced houses.
     • Reasons:
       • Urban Planning: In the UK, urban planning post-World War II focused on rebuilding housing quickly and efficiently, leading to the construction of many terraced houses.
       • Land Use Efficiency: Semi-detached and terraced houses make efficient use of land, which is particularly valuable in densely populated areas.
       • Historical Housing Stock: Both countries have a significant stock of historical terraced housing that continues to be utilized.
3. Flats:
   • Dominant in Southern and Western Europe:
     • Countries like Spain, Germany, and Italy have a higher prevalence of flats.
     • Reasons:
       • Urbanization: Higher levels of urbanization and population density necessitate the construction of multi-family residential buildings.
       • Land Availability: Limited land availability in densely populated urban areas drives the construction of flats.
       • Cultural Trends: In some cultures, living in flats is seen as more modern or convenient, especially in metropolitan areas.

Specific Country Highlights:

• North Macedonia has the highest percentage of detached houses at 71.2%.
• The Netherlands has the highest percentage of semi-detached or terraced houses at 62.2%.
• Spain has the highest percentage of flats at 65.7%.

Socio-Economic and Cultural Influences:

• Economic Factors: Housing preferences can be influenced by economic conditions, including housing affordability and income levels.
• Policy and Planning: Government policies, housing regulations, and urban planning strategies shape the types of housing available.
• Lifestyle Preferences: Cultural attitudes towards family living, privacy, and community living also play a significant role.

Data comes from Eurostat.

Below is a comparison for 2018, which was the last year records for the UK were collected.

Country	Deteached %	Semi Detached %	Flat %
EU 28	33.3	24.1	41.9
Belgium	36.4	40.6	22.4
Bulgaria	42.2	11.3	45.9
Czechia	39.1	8.9	51.5
Denmark	53.2	13.4	33.2
Germany	26.4	15.8	56.3
Estonia	33.5	4.4	61.5
Ireland	39.9	52.1	7.8
Greece	31.6	7.7	60.6
Spain	12.9	22.0	64.9
France	42.4	23.5	33.9
Croatia	69.7	8.7	21.6
Italy	22.8	24.4	52.6
Cyprus	43.6	28.5	26.6
Latvia	31.1	2.6	66.2
Lithuania	34.5	4.8	59.5
Luxembourg	34.7	26.9	37.1
Hungary	64.6	6.5	27.3
Malta	4.6	41.5	53.8
Netherlands	17.4	58.0	20.2
Austria	45.0	8.5	46.0
Poland	50.1	5.6	44.0
Portugal	36.9	17.3	45.7
Romania	65.2	1.4	33.4
Slovenia	66.2	5.5	28.0
Slovakia	49.9	1.6	48.3
Finland	46.1	18.9	34.6
Sweden	44.4	9.2	46.2
Iceland	32.4	18.5	48.3
Norway	57.5	20.7	21.2
Switzerland	23.0	11.2	62.5
United Kingdom	24.0	60.8	14.8
North Macedonia	74.6	11.1	14.2
Albania	67.6	8.3	24.0
Serbia	63.6	9.7	26.6

The numbers use don the map, are slightly more recent (2021/2020) which is why Spain ranks above Latvia in the number of people living in flats and why the Netherlands ranks above the UK in the number of people living in semi-detached/terrace houses.

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