Changing Profiles of Housing Deprivation in European Union Countries

Abstract Housing deprivation is often analyzed as the proportion of population affected by housing problems related to a variety of issues. As a result, even if the level of housing deprivation is similar across countries, they may face different housing-related problems. In the presented research, an attempt was made to identify countries similar in terms of the area of housing problems. The specified dimensions were: (1) housing quality, (2) way of using the dwelling, and (3) neighborhood-related issues. The analysis indicated that in the EU, there are countries that do not show an intensification of housing deprivation in any of the areas. In 2020, these were Czechia, Austria, Estonia, and Finland. Countries with a deprivation profile related to housing quality were Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, and Cyprus; and to a lesser extent, also Hungary, Ireland, Slovenia and Belgium. Housing deprivation was mainly related to the way of using the dwelling in Greece, Bulgaria, and - to a lesser extent – also in Denmark, Poland, Croatia and Slovakia. The deprivation profile related to the neighborhood was identified in Malta, the Netherlands, France, and - to a lesser extent - also Spain, Portugal, Italy, Luxembourg, Sweden, and Germany. Housing deprivation profiles in the EU undergo changes in the 2010-2020 decade.