Protests have spread across several European countries over rising living costs, unaffordable housing, low wages and pressure on public services in recent weeks. In France, students and young people have been at the forefront of the protests.
That has turned attention to Europe’s Gen Z.
Alberto Alemanno, EU law expert, believes framing protest as “teenage revolution” deeply misleading, and he emphasises that youth protests around Europe are multifaceted.
So, how does the household income of young people compare across Europe? What is the financial situation of their households? And how does France compare with other European countries?
While it does not show all the picture, the equivalised disposable income is one useful indicator. It is “the total income of a household, after tax and other deductions, that is available for spending or saving, divided by the number of household members converted into equalised adults,” according to Eurostat. This also includes social benefits.
Eurostat data are available for young people aged 18 to 24. The figures show the income of the households they live in, rather than what young people themselves earn.
Young people in France live in households with a median equivalised income of €23,850 in 2025, according to Eurostat. The EU average is €21,482.
Among 34 European countries, including EU members, EU candidate countries and EFTA members, France ranks 11th.
“In France, the indicator does not capture students living on their own or in collective housing such as university halls of residence (excluded from the sample),” Anne Brunner, director of studies at Observatoire des inégalités, told Euronews Business.
She also pointed out that the 18–24 age group is heterogeneous: it includes both students living with their parents and young workers, many of whom have few or no qualifications and are in precarious employment and at risk of poverty.
Switzerland has the highest median equivalised household income for young people at €52,206. Luxembourg (€43,028) and Austria (€37,299) follow it.
Among the EU’s ‘Big Four’ economies, Germany has the highest income at €26,330. Italy (€20,315) and Spain (€19,338) are below the EU average.
North Macedonia (€4,640), followed by Albania (€5,736) and Turkey (€5,987), has the lowest median equivalised income for people aged 18 to 24.
This figure is also less than half the EU average in Bulgaria (€8,680), Hungary (€8,576), Serbia (€7,754) and Romania (€7,237).
Data vs reality
The European Youth Forum secretariat noted that income is only part of the equation. In some countries, young people may look better off on paper because they stay in the parental home for longer. But behind those figures is a generation that cannot afford to move out, rent or buy a home, and build a life on their own.
“The paradox is that young people can look better off when they depend on their families for longer, and poorer when they go out on their own,” the secretariat told Euronews Business.
Young people fall behind in most countries
Comparing young people with the whole population in their own country shows whether they are falling behind. Combination of several factors has a role in this.
“Overall, less work experience and a lower level of education (often young people are still studying) than older adults. Additionally, being a student is often associated with a lower level of income. Also, housing arrangements can matter [as the Nordic countries],” Ilari Ilmakunnas, senior researcher at the Finnish Centre for Pensions (ETK), told Euronews Business.
In 28 of the 34 countries, young people live in households with a lower median income than the overall population.
Across the EU, young people have 93.6% of the median income of the whole population: €21,482 compared with €22,939.
In France, the figure is 90.1%. Young people live in households with a median income €2,609 lower than the national median: €23,850 compared with €26,459.
Where is the gap widest?
Finland has the widest gap. Young people there live in households with a median income of €22,277, compared with €29,740 for the whole population. That is 74.9% of the national median.
Denmark (78.3%), Norway (82.7%), Luxembourg (86.0%) and Sweden (88.2%) follow Finland.
Anne Brunner noted that public policy in the Nordic countries actively promotes the autonomy of young people, who consequently leave the parental home earlier and are far more likely to live independently.
“Their household income is then measured on their own, often modest, resources rather than pooled with that of their parents, which mechanically widens the gap with the overall population. A low ratio in these countries should therefore not be read as a sign of greater hardship,” she said.
In six countries, young people live in households with higher income than the whole population. In Croatia, young people’s households have a median of €15,921, compared with €15,057 for the whole population
Croatia leads at 105.7%, followed by Malta (105.5%) and Slovenia (105.4%). Lithuania and Austria are both at 102.1%. Switzerland is at 100.5%.
Austria leads in purchasing power
Price levels differ across Europe. Measured in purchasing power standards (PPS), the median equivalised household income of young people aged 18 to 24 is highest in Austria at 33,052 PPS. Luxembourg (32,391) and Switzerland (29,989) follow.
In PPS terms, France (21,446) ranks 13th, slightly above the EU average.
Germany (24,237) ranks higher, while Spain (21,272) and Italy (20,883) are below France, although the gaps are relatively small.
Albania (8,175), North Macedonia (8,994) and Montenegro (9,955) have the lowest figures.
Call for looking beyond income
The European Youth Forum calls for looking beyond just income and considering the idea of the social wage: the affordable housing, public services, education, healthcare and social protection that determine how far our incomes actually go.
“A decent life should not depend on a good salary alone, or on having family wealth to fall back on. It requires decent wages alongside strong public services that make the essentials affordable,” the secretariat said.