The summer months are a time for holidays and travel. However, almost a third of the citizens of EU’s member states cannot afford to go on a one-week holiday away from their homes. According to Eurostat, 32,9% of EU’s population cannot afford a week-long vacation. For households with dependent children the figure is slightly higher (34,6 percent) than those without children (31,3 percent).

Sweden tops the list of countries where citizens find it the easiest to go on a one-week holiday (only 8,2 percent of its citizens cannot afford to go on vacation). Sweden is followed by Luxembourg (where 13,1 percent cannot afford to go on vacation), Denmark (where 13,7 percent cannot afford to go on vacation), Finland (where 14,2 percent cannot afford to go on vacation) and Austria (where 15,4 percent cannot afford to go on vacation). Slovenia places tenth on the list (26,9% of its citizens cannot afford to go on vacation).

Romanians and Croatians have it the hardest
A one-week vacation represents serious financial difficulties to the citizens of Europe’s east and south. More than a half of the citizens of Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus and Hungary, as well as more than 60 percent of Croatians and Romanians, cannot afford a one-week holiday away from their homes.
However, the financial situation of EU’s citizens is improving. Three years ago the share of EU citizens unable to go on vacation was two fifths.

G. C., MMC; translated by K. J.