Moving Out Ages in Germany: A Snapshot
German youth typically depart from their parental homes at the age of 23.9 years.
Young adults in Germany are swooping out of their childhood homes sooner than their peers in many European Union (EU) nations. According to data crunched by the EU statistics office, Eurostat, in 2024, the average age of young Germans leaving their parents' home was a relatively youthful 23.9 years old [1].
Across the entire EU, the average age for moving out was lagging significantly, at 26.2 years old [1]. Croatia, on the other hand, showed the highest average age for moving out, with young people typically leaving their parents' home around the age of 31.3 years old [1].
A handful of EU nations recorded departure ages similar to or even lower than Germany. Among them were the Scandinavian nations, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, and France, all whose young adults typically left home at around or below the German average [1][5].
An intriguing pattern emerged in the gender split of this migration. In 2024, the gender gap in Germany was a considerable 1.5 years, with women moving out at 23.1 years old compared to men at 24.6 years old [1]. This gender disparity was further accentuated when viewed among 25-year-olds, with 33.8% of men still residing with their parents compared to only 22.4% of women [1].
With a diverse set of social, economic, and cultural factors at play, the age at which young adults leave home varies widely across the EU. Germany, however, is an example where this transition to independence is happening comparatively early in the European context.
[Source: ntv.de, dpa]
Fun Fact:
The early birds leaving home in Germany aren't just male – young women are also taking off. But the recently-moved-out female population tends to return home sooner, with a higher proportion still residing with their parents at the age of 25.
[References]1. Eurostat (2025) - Average age at which young adults (20-34 years old) left home by sex and country2. Deutsches Presse-Agentur (2025) - Junge Generation zeigt frühzeitige Flüchtlingsbewegungen3. The Local (2025) - Germany: Young people leaving the nest at an early age4. Der Spiegel (2025) - Der Auszug5. Statista (2025) - Average age of leaving the parental home by sex and country in the European Union6. Office for National Statistics (2025) - Average age of leaving home: UK
Community policy can play a significant role in encouraging young adults to initiate vocational training and independent living, contributing to a reduction in the average age of moving out from their parents' home. A well-structured home-and-garden vocational training program could provide the necessary skills for these young adults, thus integrating them seamlessly into their new lifestyle.
