07/21/2026
Homeownership looks very different depending on where you live.
A new analysis from Visual Capitalist ranks countries by the percentage of households that own the home they live in, revealing how decades of housing policies continue to shape homeownership around the world.
🏡 The Slovak Republic ranks first with a homeownership rate of 93.5%, followed by Romania (92.8%) and Croatia (90.4%). China also ranks among the highest at 90.0%, largely due to housing reforms introduced in the 1990s.
On the other end of the spectrum, Germany (41.0%) and Switzerland (38.2%) have some of the lowest homeownership rates among the countries analyzed, despite being two of Europe's strongest economies. Strong rental markets and long-term tenant protections have made renting a practical and attractive option for many households.
One of the biggest takeaways is that homeownership is influenced by much more than income alone. Government policies, housing reforms, financing systems, and rental market conditions all play a significant role in determining whether people buy or rent.
For real estate professionals, buyers, investors, and policymakers, these global trends provide valuable insight into how different housing markets evolve and what drives long-term affordability and ownership.
📊 Read the full article here:
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/homeownership-rates-world-ranking/?mc_cid=1df7f8ba5e&mc_eid=f727c73640
Sources & Credits:
Content and data are based on research published by Visual Capitalist. Primary data sources include the OECD Affordable Housing Database, with China's homeownership data from Clark, Huang, and Yi (2019). Additional analysis and statistics are credited to the original article and its cited sources.
Graphic Credit: This visual was created for educational and informational purposes and is based on the original infographic by Visual Capitalist. The design has been independently recreated and adapted using information from the original publication. For the complete analysis, please visit the original article linked above.
