Eurostat Finds 24.5 Percent of Poles Cannot Afford Annual Holidays

Financial constraints prevent nearly one in four people aged 16 and older in Poland from affording a weeklong holiday away from home, according to Eurostat data published in a report covered by Forsal.pl on October 10, 2026. Poland performs better than the European Union average, but the figures highlight persistent differences in households' ability to pay for nonessential expenses.

Eurostat recorded a rate of 24.5% in Poland for people unable to afford an annual weeklong trip for financial reasons. Across the European Union, the corresponding figure was 27.5%, putting Poland 3 percentage points below the bloc-wide average.

The figures concern people who cannot afford a holiday, not those who voluntarily choose to stay home. The distinction makes the indicator a measure of financial deprivation rather than a record of travel preferences.

Romania reported the highest rate among the countries highlighted in the report, at 61.4%. Greece followed at 46.6%, while Bulgaria and Hungary each recorded 39.1%. Luxembourg had the lowest rate among the listed countries, at 10.6%, according to the figures reported by Forsal.pl.

The gap between Romania and Luxembourg illustrates the substantial differences in financial circumstances across EU member states. National averages, however, do not capture every household's ability to cover essential bills and discretionary spending.

Eurostat's broader assessment also examined whether residents could afford regular recreational activities, a sufficiently nutritious meal every other day, and a private household internet connection. These indicators offer additional measures of the financial restrictions affecting everyday life.

Across the European Union, 12.1% of residents could not afford regular recreational activities, including paid hobbies and visits to cinemas, theaters, or swimming pools. Greece recorded the highest rate for this category, at 27.3%, while Croatia had the lowest, at 3.9%, according to the reported data.

Food affordability presented another challenge. Eurostat figures cited by Forsal.pl showed that 8.5% of EU residents could not afford a meal containing meat, poultry, fish, or a vegetarian equivalent every other day. Romania recorded the highest rate at 18.1%, while Cyprus had the lowest at 1.2%.

Internet access was less frequently reported as unaffordable across the bloc. The share of EU residents unable to pay for a household internet connection for private use stood at 2.0%. National figures ranged from 0.1% in Finland to 6.2% in Romania.

The indicators show that financial deprivation extends beyond income levels alone. Housing expenses, energy bills, loan payments, and other essential costs affect how much money households have available for travel, recreation, food, and connectivity.

Eurostat's material and social deprivation measures focus on whether people can afford specific goods and activities. The figures therefore provide a different perspective from average wages or broader economic growth statistics, revealing financial limitations that may remain hidden in national income averages.

Poland's 24.5% holiday-affordability rate places it below the EU average, while the figures for recreation, food, and internet access demonstrate that material deprivation takes several forms across member states. The holiday data cited in the October 10 report refer to the 2025 reference year.