{
  "id": 15363673,
  "title": "Leisure out of reach for one in eight people in the EU: Where is the problem biggest?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/leisure-out-of-reach-for-one-in-eight-people-in-the-eu-where-is-the",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T05:54:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euronews",
    "slug": "euronews",
    "url": "https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/18/leisure-out-of-reach-for-one-in-eight-people-in-the-eu-where-is-the-problem-biggest"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Approximately 46 million individuals across the European Union find themselves unable to regularly engage in leisure activities due to financial constraints, as reported by Eurostat. Among these, Greece stands out with over one in four people facing this barrier, the highest proportion in the entire EU. However, this issue is not uniformly distributed; it exhibits significant variations even among countries with comparable income levels. Numerous studies have shown that participation in social and leisure activities is linked to improved mental well-being and reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety. Moreover, Eurostat emphasizes the role of leisure and social interactions in enhancing overall quality of life.\n\nThe figures reveal that the share of people who cannot afford regular leisure participation varies considerably, ranging from a low of 3.9% in Croatia to a high of 27.3% in Greece, compared to an EU average of 12.1%. This disparity is particularly pronounced in several Eastern European countries: Romania (23.3%), Lithuania (17.9%), Latvia (16.2%), North Macedonia (15.9%), and Hungary (15.8%). Even in more affluent regions, the issue persists; France and Spain, with 13.9% and 13.4% respectively, fall above the EU average, as do Switzerland (13%).\n\nGermany and Italy also exhibit notable gaps, with 11.7% and 10.7% of their populations, respectively, unable to afford leisure activities because of the cost. In contrast, wealthier Nordic countries such as Denmark (10.4%), Sweden (9.7%), and Finland (7.9%) show that affordability is less of a barrier. The Netherlands (6.7%), Turkey (5.7%), and Portugal (5.7%) also demonstrate lower percentages, while Belgium (9.2%) and Ireland (9.7%) sit in the middle range.\n\nGender disparities further complicate the issue, with women generally facing higher costs. Among women, the share stands at 13%, compared to 11.1% among men, with the gender gap being most pronounced in countries like Lithuania, Romania, Denmark, and France. Analysis by Euronews Business across 33 European countries shows that while income does play a role, it accounts for less than a fifth of the variation in leisure affordability. Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have similar median incomes yet show a wide disparity in affordability, ranging from 4.1% in Czechia to 17.9% in Lithuania. Similarly, France and Cyprus, with nearly identical median incomes, exhibit a stark contrast in affordability, where France (13.9%) faces a much higher percentage of unaffordable leisure activities compared to Cyprus (6.3%). Greece, with the highest rate at 27.3%, and countries like Turkey (8.7%) and Serbia (9.9%) illustrate that lower income does not necessarily correlate with higher affordability.\n\nInequality within countries also contributes to the disparity, as over 29% of people below the poverty line in the EU are unable to afford regular leisure activities compared to those above the poverty line. However, the link between income inequality and leisure affordability is weak and statistically insignificant. Eurostat's survey methodology may also influence the results, as individuals may understate their financial constraints due to the perception that leisure is not a necessity. Finally, the definition of leisure activities by Eurostat includes a range of activities such as sports, cinema, concerts, and others, all of which typically involve spending money on entrance fees, equipment, or club memberships, thus highlighting the financial barriers faced by many EU citizens.",
  "summary": "From sport to cinema trips, regular leisure activities are out of reach for around 46 million people in the EU. Income helps explain the gap between countries, but it does not tell the whole story.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}