One in Eight Europeans Affected by Pollution at Home, Says Eurostat

Despite strides in environmental conservation, more than 12% of Europeans reported living under the burden of pollution, grime, or other environmental nuisances in 2023—down from over 15% in 2019. That means more than one in eight residents across the EU continues to face degraded living conditions, according to the latest Eurostat release.

The impact is not evenly spread across the continent. Across national lines, Malta recorded the highest incidence—with nearly 35% of its population affected—followed by Greece (20.5%) and Germany (16.8%). At the other end of the scale, Croatia showed the least concern, with just 4.2% of its population reporting environmental discomfort, followed closely by Sweden (5.0%) and Slovakia (5.8%).

A closer look at how people live reveals a clear pattern: urban residents are most exposed. In cities, almost 17.2% of the population say environmental problems affect their homes, compared to just 6.8% in rural areas. Those living in suburbs or towns fall in between, at around 10.5%.

Underlying this data is the EU’s regular Income and Living Conditions survey—collected every three years—which offers a vital window into the quality of life across the region.  
Eurostat: 12% of EU population reported pollution in their area - News articles - Eurostat

Join the community of your own - #1 home-grown LuxExpats app
SignUp Free: luxembourgexpats.lu