In 2023, the levels of actual individual consumption (AIC) across EU countries varied between 70% and 136% of the EU average.
This information comes from data on purchasing power parities (PPP) published by Eurostat today. The article presents some of the findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained article.
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).
The lowest levels of AIC per capita were registered in Hungary and Bulgaria (both 30% below the EU average) and Latvia (26% below).
Source dataset: prc_ppp_ind
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%).
Conversely, AIC levels decreased in 11 EU countries. The biggest decreases were recorded in Denmark (108% in 2023 vs 122% in 2021), Sweden (106% vs 112%), Lithuania (88% vs 93%) and Czechia (81% vs 86%).
Per capita measures show greater differences between EU countries for GDP than for actual individual consumption
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.
Source dataset: prc_ppp_ind
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%).
On the other hand, the level of GDP per capita has fallen significantly in Luxembourg (237% vs 260%), Ireland (213% vs 226%), Denmark (125% vs 134%) and Sweden (114% vs 121%).
