Mortgage interest rates in Europe soared in 2022 and remained elevated in 2023. In many countries, this resulted in interest rates more than doubling. In Denmark, the average mortgage interest rate rose from 0.67 percent in 2021 to 4.98 percent in 2023. Why did mortgage interest rates increase? Mortgage rates have risen as a result of the European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate increase. The ECB increased its interest rates to tackle inflation. As inflation calms, the ECB is expected to cut rates, which will allow mortgage lenders to reduce mortgage interest rates. What is the impact of interest rates on homebuying? Lower interest rates make taking out a housing loan more affordable, and thus, encourage homebuying. That can be seen in many countries across Europe: In France, the number of residential properties sold rose in the years leading up to 2021, and fell as interest rates increased. The number of houses sold in the UK followed a similar trend.

The average mortgage interest rate decreased in nearly every country in Europe between 2012 and 2021, followed by an increase in response to inflation. In Hungary, Poland, Czechia, and Romania, mortgage rates peaked in late 2022 and the beginning of 2023, followed by a gradual decline until the first quarter of 2024. The rest of the countries under observation, including the biggest mortgage markets - the UK and Germany, saw a continued increase in interest rates until the fourth quarter of 2023. In the first quarter of 2024, mortgage interest rates declined quarter-on-quarter across almost all markets in focus, marking a long awaited easing of monetary policy.

In 2023, the average mortgage rates in European countries varied from 2.6 percent in Bulgaria to over eight percent in Hungary. The mortgage rate for a home purchase is decided depending on the individual situation of the homebuyer, their credit history, and income, but they also follow macro determinants including the base lending rate, inflation, economic growth, and the health of the housing market. Starts, completions and prices The supply of new housing varies in different countries in Europe. In 2023, the number of new housing units completed per 1,000 citizens was between 0.8 and seven, with this number varying greatly in different countries. Ireland and Poland were among the countries with most completed housing units. When it comes to housing starts, Ireland tops the ranking. The average transaction price of a new dwelling in 2023 ranged anywhere from roughly 1,300 euros per square meter to under 5,000 euros per square meter. Housing stock As the most populous country in Europe, Germany has the largest housing stock. Comparing the number of housing units per 1,000 citizens is an easy way to identify housing shortages. In Greece and the UK, for example, the number of dwellings per 1,000 citizens measured less than 400, compared to Bulgaria and Spain, where it was around 600.

This dataset provides values for 30 YEAR MORTGAGE RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

This dataset provides values for MORTGAGE RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

European Union central banks navigated a complex economic landscape between 2022 and 2025, with interest rates initially rising across member states. However, a pivotal shift occurred in late 2023 as most countries began lowering their rates, reflecting the delicate balance between controlling inflation and supporting economic growth. In the Euro area, the European Central Bank (ECB) led this trend by cutting interest rates from 4.5 percent to 3.15 percent in 2024, implementing four strategic rate reductions throughout the year. This approach was nearly universally adopted, with Poland being the sole EU country not reducing its rates during this period. Global context and policy shifts The interest rate changes in the EU mirror similar movements in other major economies. The United States, United Kingdom, and European Union central banks followed remarkably similar patterns from 2003 to 2024, responding to shared global economic conditions. After maintaining near-zero rates following the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, these institutions sharply raised rates in 2022 to combat surging inflation. By mid-2024, the European Central Bank and Bank of England initiated rate cuts, with the Federal Reserve following suit. Varied approaches within the EU Despite the overall trend, individual EU countries have adopted diverse strategies. Hungary, for instance, set the highest rate in the EU at 13 percent in September 2023, gradually reducing it to 6.5 percent by September 2024. In contrast, Sweden implemented the most aggressive cuts, lowering its rate to 2.25 percent by February 2025, the lowest among EU members. These divergent approaches highlight the unique economic challenges faced by each country and the flexibility required in monetary policy to address specific national circumstances.

The benchmark interest rate In the Euro Area was last recorded at 2.65 percent. This dataset provides - Euro Area Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Bulgaria was at the top of this ranking of 29 European countries sorted by the growth rate of their volume of loans to households in 2023. Loans to households in the European Union and the European Economic Area are expected to grow on average by over three percent in 2024. Meanwhile, the loans and advances market in Germany is expected to increase by 2.2 percent in 2024. Overall, the total value of the household loans market in the EU as a whole is expected to keep growing during that timeline.

Ireland ECB Interest Rate: Marginal Lending Facility data was reported at 3.150 % pa in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.400 % pa for Jan 2025. Ireland ECB Interest Rate: Marginal Lending Facility data is updated monthly, averaging 2.000 % pa from Jan 1999 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 314 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.750 % pa in Apr 2001 and a record low of 0.250 % pa in Jun 2022. Ireland ECB Interest Rate: Marginal Lending Facility data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by European Central Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ireland – Table IE.M001: Key Interest Rates: European Central Bank.

The value of residential mortgage lending decreased across many European countries in the first quarter of 2024. In the UK, new lending declined from about 66.8 billion euros to 59 billion euros between the first quarters of 2023 and 2024. One of the main reasons was the worsening economic conditions and rising interest rates. Together with France and Germany, the UK make up the top three biggest markets, both in terms of gross mortgage lending and outstanding mortgage lending.

Belgium ECB Interest Rate: Marginal Lending Facility data was reported at 3.150 % pa in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.400 % pa for Jan 2025. Belgium ECB Interest Rate: Marginal Lending Facility data is updated monthly, averaging 2.000 % pa from Jan 1999 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 314 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.750 % pa in Apr 2001 and a record low of 0.250 % pa in Jun 2022. Belgium ECB Interest Rate: Marginal Lending Facility data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by European Central Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Belgium – Table BE.M001: Key Interest Rates: European Central Bank.

European Union Key Interest Rate: Month End: Marginal Lending Facility data was reported at 3.150 % pa in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.400 % pa for Jan 2025. European Union Key Interest Rate: Month End: Marginal Lending Facility data is updated monthly, averaging 2.000 % pa from Jan 1999 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 314 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.750 % pa in Apr 2001 and a record low of 0.250 % pa in Jun 2022. European Union Key Interest Rate: Month End: Marginal Lending Facility data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by European Central Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.M001: Key Interest Rates: European Central Bank.

Geneva, Switzerland, was the most expensive city to buy an apartment in Europe in the first quarter of 2024. The square meter price in Geneva was nearly 15,650 euros in that quarter, about 2,000 euros higher than the second city in the ranking, Zurich. Cost of rent Rents across the major cities in Europe increased significantly in 2023. One of the main factors driving high rents across European cities is the same as any other consumer-driven business. If demand outweighs supply, prices will inflate. The drive for high paid professionals to be located centrally in prime locations, mixed with the low levels of available space, high land, and construction costs, all help keep rental prices increasing. Mortgage rates The average mortgage interest rates across Europe in 2023 were all under five percent, except in Czechia, Romania, Hungary, and Poland. On an individual level, a difference of one percent would most likely mean thousands of euros in interest on the mortgage a person is paying, making timing key in house purchasing. Mortgage interest rates tend to be lower in Nordic countries due to the financial stability and reliability of its borrowers. Other factors that influence the mortgage interest rates include inflation, economic growth, monetary policies, the bond market and the overall conditions of the housing market. More stable markets also tend to have higher average prices.

The average for 2020 based on 13 countries was 3.71 interest rate points. The highest value was in Ukraine: 8.21 interest rate points and the lowest value was in Hungary: 1.49 interest rate points. The indicator is available from 1980 to 2020. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

The value of residential mortgage lending in Germany declined notably in 2024, reaching the lowest quarterly value since 2014. In the second quarter of 2024, gross residential mortgage lending reached a value of 46.7 billion euros. The worsening economic conditions, higher interest rates, and the lack of affordable housing are among the factors leading to the decline in mortgage lending. Nevertheless, Germany is among the largest mortgage markets in Europe. More information on the Mortgage market in Western European countries can be found here.

The United Kingdom, Germany, and France were the countries with the largest mortgage markets in Europe in 2024, when considering the value of loans outstanding. In the second quarter of the year, the UK had more than 1.9 billion euros worth of mortgages outstanding. Other countries with large mortgage markets included the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Italy - all exceeding 400 billion euros. One of the main drivers of mortgage activity is the cost of borrowing. In 2022, interest rates increased dramatically across Europe. Ireland, and Germany remained among the few countries with an average interest rate under four percent.

Among the factors that influence mortgage interest rates are inflation, economic growth, monetary policies, the bond market, lenders' stability, and the housing market's overall conditions. The mortgage interest rate in Romania fluctuated during the period under observation, with an upward trend from the second quarter of 2017 onwards. The first quarter of 2023 reached the highest value recorded — 7.85 percent; by the third quarter of 2024, it dropped to 6.26 percent.

This dataset provides values for BANK LENDING RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Slovakia ECB Interest Rate: Marginal Lending Facility data was reported at 3.150 % pa in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.400 % pa for Jan 2025. Slovakia ECB Interest Rate: Marginal Lending Facility data is updated monthly, averaging 2.000 % pa from Jan 1999 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 314 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.750 % pa in Apr 2001 and a record low of 0.250 % pa in Jun 2022. Slovakia ECB Interest Rate: Marginal Lending Facility data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by European Central Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Slovakia – Table SK.M001: Key Interest Rates: European Central Bank.

Mortgage interest rates worldwide varied greatly in 2024, from less than four percent in many European countries, to as high as 44 percent in Turkey. The average mortgage rate in a country depends on the central bank's base lending rate and macroeconomic indicators such as inflation and forecast economic growth. Since 2022, inflationary pressures have led to rapid increase in mortgage interest rates. Which are the leading mortgage markets? An easy way to estimate the importance of the mortgage sector in each country is by comparing household debt depth, or the ratio of the debt held by households compared to the county's GDP. In 2023, Switzerland, Australia, and Canada had some of the highest household debt to GDP ratios worldwide. While this indicator shows the size of the sector relative to the country’s economy, the value of mortgages outstanding allows to compare the market size in different countries. In Europe, for instance, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France were the largest mortgage markets by outstanding mortgage lending. Mortgage lending trends in the U.S. In the United States, new mortgage lending soared in 2021. This was largely due to the growth of new refinance loans that allow homeowners to renegotiate their mortgage terms and replace their existing loan with a more favorable one. Following the rise in interest rates, the mortgage market cooled, and refinance loans declined.