Decreased number of grown children reside with their parents - Parents continue to house grown offspring
In a notable change, the preliminary figures from the 2024 Microcensus in Thuringia suggest a decrease in the number of adult children over 27 years old living with their parents. At the same time, the number of those aged 18 to 26 has seen an increase.
According to the data, 26.8% of the 443,000 children living with their parents in Thuringia are over 18 years old. This represents a decrease from 29.5% ten years ago. Simultaneously, the number of adult children aged 18 to 26 living with their parents has increased by 8.5%.
The decrease in the number of adult children living with their parents is not limited to the past year. Over the last decade, there has been a gradual decrease, with the percentage of adult children living with their parents falling from 29.5% to 26.8%.
Intriguingly, the gender distribution of this demographic shift appears to differ in Thuringia. Among the adult children still living with their parents, the number of those over 27 years old has decreased by 20.2%. However, the proportion of men living with their parents is higher than women, with 60.8% of 18- to 26-year-olds being men and 76.2% of those aged 27 and over being men.
It is worth noting that the city of Erfurt in Thuringia was not specifically mentioned in the provided data. While several social and economic factors may contribute to this phenomenon, such as economic challenges and housing affordability, cultural and social norms, education and employment patterns, and broader European trends, specific data or studies would be needed to confirm these causes for Erfurt and Thuringia.
Official statistics from German or European social research agencies, such as Destatis or Eurostat, or sociological studies on regional demographics could provide detailed insights into gender differences in leaving home in Erfurt and Thuringia.
Interestingly, nationwide, men in Germany leave the parental home at an average age of 24.6 years, while women leave at 23.1 years. In contrast, seven EU countries had a lower average age of leaving home than Germany, including Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands (23.2), and France (23.5).
The State Office of Statistics in Thuringia has released these preliminary figures from the 2024 Microcensus, offering a fascinating glimpse into the changing living arrangements in the region. As more detailed data becomes available, it will be interesting to see how these trends evolve in the coming years.
- Given the decline in the number of adult children over 27 years old living with their parents in Thuringia, it might be necessary for the community policy to address the need for affordable housing and employment opportunities to encourage independence among young adults.
- The increase in the number of adult children aged 18 to 26 living with their parents and the differences in gender distribution suggest that family-dynamics, relationships, and home-and-garden policies may need to consider catering to this changing lifestyle in the Thuringia region.
