Bulgaria is among the European countries where residential space is used most efficiently, according to recent Eurostat data. While many parts of Europe face growing pressure from housing shortages and rising affordability concerns, Bulgaria reports one of the lowest rates of housing underutilization on the continent.
Only 15.8% of Bulgarians live in homes considered larger than their household needs, a figure well below the European Union average of 33.4%. This places Bulgaria alongside countries such as Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, and Italy among the nations with the smallest share of residents occupying oversized homes.
Compared with neighboring countries, Bulgaria's position remains relatively strong, although several Balkan states report even lower levels. Romania records the lowest share in the region at 8.1%, followed by Serbia with 8.2%, Turkey with 10.3%, and Greece with 12.5%. Croatia stands at 14.7%, while North Macedonia reports 17%.
The data highlight a noticeable divide between Eastern and Western Europe. In much of Eastern and Southeastern Europe, fewer people live in homes with excess space. By contrast, a number of Western European countries report significantly higher levels of housing underutilization, often affecting more than half of their populations.
