The levels of actual individual consumption (AIC) across EU countries varied between 70% and 136% of the EU average in 2023. The lowest levels of AIC per capita were registered in Hungary and Bulgaria (both 30% below the EU average) and Latvia (26% below).
This information comes from data on purchasing power parities (PPP) published by Eurostat. AIC per capita is expressed in purchasing power standards and is used as a measure of material welfare of households.
Last year, 9 countries recorded an AIC per capita above the EU average. Luxembourg recorded the highest level at 36% above the EU average. Luxembourg was followed by the Netherlands and Germany (both 19% above).
Over the last 3 years, AIC per capita relative to the EU average has changed in most EU countries. Between 2021 and 2023, AIC levels increased in 15 EU countries, most notably in Ireland (99% of the EU average in 2023 compared with 91% in 2021), Cyprus (100% vs 94%) and Malta (90% vs 85%).
Luxembourg registered the highest level of GDP per capita expressed in purchasing power standards in the EU, at 137% above the EU average, ahead of Ireland (113%) and the Netherlands (33%). By contrast, Bulgaria (36% below the EU average), Greece (31%) and Latvia (30%) registered the lowest levels.
GDP per capita relative to the EU average has also changed significantly for most countries over the last 3 years. In 2023, compared with 2021, relative volumes of GDP per capita increased in 12 countries. The largest increases were recorded in Portugal (81% of the EU average in 2023 compared with 74% in 2021), Spain (91% vs 85%), Romania (78% vs 72%) and Croatia (76% vs 70%).
