Heating your home is something most of us don’t think twice about—until the bills come in. But in many parts of Europe, keeping warm in winter isn’t just about comfort. It’s about what people can afford.
Every year, Eurostat publishes data on how many people across Europe say they can’t afford to heat their homes properly. That number has changed a lot in recent years. If we compare the data from 2016 to 2023, it becomes clear which countries have been hit hardest—and which have held steady.
Looking back at 2016, energy poverty hit hardest in Eastern and Southern Europe. In Bulgaria, nearly 40% of people said they couldn’t keep their homes warm. Greece and Lithuania weren’t far behind, both with rates over 25%. Portugal and Cyprus were also in the high range.
In contrast, many countries in Northern and Western Europe had much lower numbers. Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands stayed below 5%. So did the Nordic countries, despite their cold winters.
A lot of this comes down to income, housing quality, and government support. Older buildings with poor insulation, lower average wages, and less help with energy costs made it harder for people to stay warm, especially in the south and east.
2023: A Lot Has Changed—And Not Always for the Better
Fast forward to 2023, and the picture looks different. Some countries have improved a bit. Others are doing worse. According to Eurostat, 10.6% of people in the EU said they couldn’t afford to heat their homes in 2023. That’s up from 9.3% in 2022.
Spain and Portugal now have some of the highest rates, both at 20.8%. Bulgaria is close behind at 20.7%, with Lithuania at 20.0% and Greece at 19.2%.
Those are big jumps for Spain and Portugal. Just a few years ago, their numbers were closer to the middle. One likely reason is the sharp rise in electricity prices, especially in 2022.
Meanwhile, a few countries have kept energy poverty down:
Luxembourg: 2.1%
Finland: 2.6%
Slovenia: 3.6%
Austria: 3.9%
Estonia: 4.1%
What’s interesting is that many of these countries have colder winters, but better housing standards and stronger support systems. District heating networks, better insulation, and more help for low-income households make a big difference when prices rise.
Southern Europe, by contrast, often relies on electric heaters in homes that aren’t built for cold. When energy costs go up, those homes become expensive to heat, and fast.
It’s easy to think of heating as a basic need. But these maps show that, even in wealthy regions like the EU, millions still can’t afford it. Economic shocks, energy prices, and housing conditions all play a role.
