One-third of young Slovaks live with their parents, most commonly because they cannot afford to live independently. Around four in ten manage their finances entirely on their own, while a similar share make financial decisions together with other members of their household. One in four is able to save money every month, and a similar proportion invests regularly.
These findings come from a survey on the lives and finances of young people in Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, and Croatia conducted by the international banking division of Intesa Sanpaolo. Representatives of VÚB Bank presented the results on Tuesday. In Slovakia, the survey included 523 respondents aged 18 to 34. Generation Z, which roughly corresponds to this age group, numbers about 880,000 people in Slovakia—nearly one in six of the country's population.
"Youth in Slovakia are only beginning their careers, so they earn less than older age groups. At the same time, young people who are not studying are more likely to be unemployed. Their net wealth—the difference between total assets, including housing, and debt—declined by 16% in real terms between 2021 and 2023 due to high inflation," said VÚB macroeconomist Michal Lehuta.
According to the survey, young Slovaks perform significantly better in saving than their peers in the other countries surveyed, with one-quarter able to save money each month. However, they have relatively low confidence in managing their finances. More than half (55%) said they believe they will achieve their financial goals—the lowest level of confidence among the countries surveyed. Half also reported experiencing financial stress.
Analysts view one positive trend as the growing awareness among young people of the benefits of long-term investing. Young Slovaks are among the region's most active investors, with one-quarter regularly investing in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or mutual funds. However, they still keep too much money in current accounts, where it continues to lose value due to inflation, which is expected to remain close to 4% in 2026.
According to statistics, one in five young Slovaks leaves the country to study abroad, and many do not plan to return permanently. "The survey shows that young people in Slovakia are not primarily concerned with abstract issues, but with very practical ones—rising living costs, the state of healthcare, and uncertainty about the economy and employment. If we want them to stay in Slovakia or return after studying abroad, appealing to patriotism is not enough. We need to create a country where people can afford decent housing, find quality jobs, and confidently plan their future," Lehuta said.
He added that the recommendations of several international organizations have remained consistent over the years: "We need to improve education, support innovation, modernize public institutions, and raise the quality of housing and public services. This is the most effective way to reduce the outflow of young people."
Source: TASR
