Housing
Background
In many OECD countries, home ownership is an important dimension of individual well-being. It protects owners from fluctuations in rents and ensures families a stable and secure shelter. Additionally, the value of a property represents a major source of wealth for households. Differences in the rate of home ownership across OECD countries depend significantly on several factors, including rental subsidies, the existence of high-quality social housing and the deductibility of interest payments on loans from taxable income. According to data collected from 23 OECD countries between 1996 and 2003, nearly 67% of occupied dwellings are inhabited by their owners on average.
Rooms per Person, Dwellings without Basic Facilities
In addition to measuring home ownership rates, it is also important to examine living conditions, such as the average number of rooms shared per person and whether dwellings have access to basic facilities.
The number of rooms in a dwelling, divided by the number of persons living there, indicates whether residents are living in crowded conditions. Overcrowded housing may have a negative impact on physical and mental health, relations with others and the development of children. In addition, dense living conditions are often a sign of inadequate water and sewage supply. In the OECD, the average home contains 1.6 rooms per person. In terms of basic facilities, only 2.8% of dwellings in the OECD lack private access to indoor flushing toilets.
Top Ranking
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Indicators
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