That's a pretty broad generalization of a continent with a lot of variation in cultural patterns, economics of housing markets, structure of workforces, etc. Here are some numbers, from 1994, but should give an illustration of the range:
Share of those at age 25-29 still living in parent's home, %
Men Women
France 22.5 10.3
Germany 28.8 12.7
Great Britain 20.8 10.8
Spain 64.8 47.6
Greece 62.6 32.1
Italy 66.0 44.1
Lauterbach, Wolfgang and Kurt Lüscher (1999), ’Wer sind die Spätauszieher? Oder: Herkunftsfamilie,
Wohnumfeld und die Gründung eines eigenen Haushalts. Eine empirische Untersuchung über das
Alter bei der Haushaltsgründung’, in Zeitschrift für Bevölkerungswissenschaft 24 (4), 425-448.
This is fascinating, thank you. I've been told a lot of the issues surrounding the boomerang generation in Italy has to do with policies that are defensive of older employees, thus making it more difficult for young adults to find jobs.
I was interested in correlating these numbers with birth rates, as I knew Italy had among Europe's lowest and France had among the highest. But the results are disappointing (or maybe not, I'm not a statistician). FWIW, the amended table is below, using numbers from the CIA World Factbook.
Share of those at age 25-29 still living in parent's home, %;
birth rate per thousand
Men Women Birth Rate
France 22.5 10.3 12.57
Germany 28.8 12.7 8.18
Great Britain 20.8 10.8 10.65 (for the UK)
Spain 64.8 47.6 9.72
Greece 62.6 32.1 9.45
Italy 66.0 44.1 8.18
Interesting, the countries in the sun belt of Europe: Spain, Greece and Italy have the highest live at home rates, they also have some pretty pricey real estate due to demand from Germany, the UK, and other northern Europeans.
I guess it's more likely about the culture and family values rather than the economic facts when it comes to countries those called to have meditterenean culture (Spain, Greece, Italy and a bunch more). ie. in Turkey a guy is simply not expected to move out until marriage.
Lauterbach, Wolfgang and Kurt Lüscher (1999), ’Wer sind die Spätauszieher? Oder: Herkunftsfamilie, Wohnumfeld und die Gründung eines eigenen Haushalts. Eine empirische Untersuchung über das Alter bei der Haushaltsgründung’, in Zeitschrift für Bevölkerungswissenschaft 24 (4), 425-448.