In the European Union, around 27% of the population cannot afford a week-long vacation, with Germany's figures notably lower than the EU average.

The impact of family size on vacation affordability is significant; 29% of families with three or more children cannot go on holiday, compared to 16% for those with one or two children.

In a broader European context, Romania has the highest percentage of individuals unable to afford a vacation at 59%, followed by Greece at 46% and Bulgaria at 41%.

Conversely, Luxembourg boasts the lowest percentage of households unable to afford a vacation at just 9%, with Sweden and the Netherlands also showing low rates of 12% and 13%, respectively.

Over 90% of people in Luxembourg can afford a week's vacation, highlighting a stark contrast to countries like Romania.

In addition to financial barriers, many who can afford vacations report health challenges, with 19.3% experiencing symptoms of 'Leisure Sickness' during their time off.

A study on 'Leisure Sickness' reveals that symptoms such as fatigue and headaches are particularly common among younger adults engaged in passive leisure activities like social media scrolling.

Despite the financial challenges, experts suggest that affordable vacation options still exist, especially in countries like Croatia.

In Germany, approximately 17.4 million people, or one in five, reported being unable to afford a one-week vacation, according to a survey by the Federal Statistical Office.

The percentage of individuals facing financial constraints for vacations has decreased slightly from 23% in 2023 to 20% in 2024.

Single parents are particularly affected by vacation unaffordability, with 38% unable to take a holiday, while 29% of single individuals also report financial difficulties.

Households with children face even greater challenges, as about 19% cannot afford a week's holiday, a figure that increases with the number of children.