Key facts
- The proportion of Europeans unable to afford a week-long holiday fell to 27.5% in 2025.
- In 2015, 35.2% of Europeans were unable to afford a week-long holiday.
- Five European countries saw an increase in the share of people unable to afford a holiday.
- Germany is one of the countries where holiday affordability decreased.
- Three Nordic nations also experienced a rise in holiday unaffordability.
Holiday affordability has seen a notable improvement across Europe, with the percentage of citizens unable to afford a week-long holiday decreasing to 27.5% in 2025. This figure represents a significant drop from 35.2% recorded in 2015, indicating a broader trend towards increased accessibility for leisure travel among Europeans over the past decade. Despite this overall positive development, the data also highlights persistent economic disparities across the continent. Five European countries, including Germany and three Nordic nations, have experienced an increase in the proportion of their populations unable to afford a holiday. This divergence suggests that while many Europeans are benefiting from improved affordability, a segment of the population, particularly in specific countries, continues to face financial challenges that limit their ability to take vacations. The reasons for these disparities are not detailed but likely relate to varying economic conditions, inflation rates, and wage growth within these nations.