Published 30 January 2026. Figures and market conditions described here were current at that time and may have changed since.
Australia is struggling to keep pace with other developed nations in home ownership growth.
According to a new global index that scores countries out of 100 based on ownership rates, five-year changes, price growth and affordability, Australia has scored just 51.56, trailing behind many European and Asian markets.
Australia's home ownership rate stands at 65.8% with no net growth over the past five years, indicating stagnation rather than expansion in the property market.
Despite annual house price growth slowing to 3.47%, the country's affordability score is just 28, among the lowest for comparable economies.
This contrasts sharply with countries like Poland, Romania, and Latvia in the European Union, which report high home ownership rates of 86.8%, 93.9%, and 83.8% respectively.
These markets demonstrate how steady demand, contained price growth, and accessible borrowing costs can support both owner-occupiers and investors.
South Korea emerges as a standout performer in Asia, combining strong ownership rates of 84.8% with limited house price increases, creating favourable conditions for home buyers.
At the lower end of the index are countries like Switzerland, with a home ownership rate of 42.82% and minimal five-year growth of just 0.04%. Germany shows an even more constrained picture with ownership at 47.1% and a five-year decline of 7.47%.
Colombia also struggles with ownership challenges, reporting a rate of 36% and a significant five-year decline of 8.40%, despite relatively modest price increases of 2.75%.
The index reveals a widening gap between markets where ownership is broadly accessible and those where affordability continues to act as a major constraint, with Australia firmly in the latter category.
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