In a comparative analysis of European Union member states, Germany stands out for having the youngest average age of departure from the parental home, with a median of 23.9 years in 2024, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) and Eurostat.
Across the EU, the average age of departure is significantly higher, at 26.2 years. In all EU countries, men tend to leave their parents’ home later than women, with a difference of one and a half years in Germany, where the average age of departure for women is 23.1 years and for men, 24.6 years.
Seven EU countries, including Scandinavian nations and neighboring states like the Netherlands and France, had a lower average age of departure in 2024, with Finland and Denmark having the lowest at 21.4 and 21.7 years, respectively. On the other hand, Croatia, the Slovak Republic and Greece had the highest average ages of departure, at 31.3, 30.9 and 30.7 years, respectively.
In Germany, a significant number of young adults still live with their parents. According to the Microcensus, in 2024, 28.4 percent of 25-year-olds still resided with their parents, a slight increase from the 27.4 percent in 2021. The gender gap is also notable, with 33.8 percent of 25-year-old men and 22.4 percent of 25-year-old women still living with their parents.