Household material welfare varies widely in the EU

In 2024, the levels of actual individual consumption (AIC) across EU countries varied between 72% and 146% of the EU average, which is set at 100. AIC per capita is expressed in purchasing power standards (PPS) and is used as a measure of material welfare of households.

Last year, 10 countries recorded an AIC per capita equal to or above the EU average. Luxembourg led with a level at 46% above the EU average, followed by the Netherlands (20% above) and Germany (19% above).

The lowest levels of AIC per capita were registered in Latvia (28% below the EU average), and Bulgaria and Hungary (both 27% below).

Source dataset: prc_ppp_ind_1

Greater differences in GDP per capita than in actual individual consumption

Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS, a measure of economic activity, also showed substantial differences among EU countries, with 10 recording GDP per capita above the EU average.

The highest GDP per capita was recorded in Luxembourg (245% of the EU average), Ireland (221%) and the Netherlands (134%). At the other end of the range, the lowest GDP per capita was recorded in Bulgaria (66% of the EU average), Latvia (68%) and Greece (69%).

Source dataset: prc_ppp_ind_1