One in Eight EU Residents Cannot Afford Regular Leisure Activities, Study Shows
Eurostat data reveal that about 46 million people across the EU—roughly one in eight—cannot regularly engage in leisure pursuits because of cost.
Eurostat estimates that around 46 million EU residents aged 16 and over lack the means to participate in regular leisure activities, representing roughly one in eight people. The proportion ranges from a low of 3.9% in Croatia to a high of 27.3% in Greece, with the bloc average at 12.1%. Several other nations—Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, North Macedonia and Hungary—record shares above 15%.
Women face slightly higher barriers than men in most countries. While median income correlates modestly with affordability, notable disparities persist among nations with similar income levels, such as France versus Cyprus. Poverty dramatically raises the likelihood of exclusion, with 29% of those below the poverty line unable to afford leisure. The analysis also notes that income inequality shows only a weak, statistically insignificant link to these gaps.
Why it matters
Limited access to affordable leisure can harm mental health and widen social inequality across Europe.
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