Satisfaction with the availability of affordable housing has fallen sharply in the world’s richest economies, even as it rises elsewhere, according to new findings from Gallup.
Across the 38 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), only 43% of adults in 2024 said they were satisfied with local housing options. That marks a steep decline from historic trends, where wealthy nations led the world in housing satisfaction.
Meanwhile, satisfaction with affordable housing has improved in many lower-income countries, highlighting a striking divergence between high-income and developing economies.
House prices drive dissatisfaction across OECD
The erosion in housing satisfaction across wealthy countries closely tracks with the surge in real estate prices. After falling post-2008, house prices across the OECD climbed steadily, peaking in 2022 before showing modest declines. Dissatisfaction with affordable housing peaked the same year at 52%.
In contrast to housing, satisfaction with services like healthcare, schools, and public transportation remains higher and more stable across OECD nations.
Perception gap: Affording shelter vs. feeling secure
While only 11% of adults in OECD countries said they lacked enough money for adequate housing, dissatisfaction rates remain high. This suggests that perceptions about affordability — including the ability to rent, own, or upgrade homes — weigh heavily on public sentiment, even when homelessness rates remain relatively low.
In poorer nations, the trend is the opposite. Although material hardship is greater, satisfaction with housing has risen, likely driven by gradual improvements in access to shelter.
Housing dissatisfaction tied to life satisfaction and trust in leadership
Research shows that people who are satisfied with local affordable housing report better overall wellbeing. They are more likely to feel safe, experience less stress, and have a more favorable view of their country’s leadership.
In OECD countries, dissatisfaction with housing correlates with lower trust in leaders and greater pessimism about future living standards, underscoring the political risk for governments failing to address housing crises.
Why it matters
As dissatisfaction grows, housing is no longer just an economic indicator — it is becoming a central driver of personal wellbeing, political sentiment, and social stability.
Leaders in wealthy nations face mounting pressure to tackle housing affordability, or risk deeper erosion of public trust and overall life satisfaction.