Gen Z more likely to live with parents in early 20s than previous generations

23 February 2026

More than two thirds of people in the UK are living with their parents at age 23, around three times higher than a generation of millennials when they were a similar age a decade ago.

The new UCL study finds that around two fifths of gen Z, born at the turn of the century, are unable to move out because of financial reasons. However, one fifth are living at home to save for a deposit, and the vast majority are planning to have children in the future or more children if they are already parents.

With the prolonged impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, gen Z are navigating the transition to adulthood in challenging economic circumstances and may be delayed in reaching certain milestones compared to previous generations.

Charlotte Booth, Research Fellow

Lead author, Dr Charlotte Booth (UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies) said: “Although many members of gen Z cannot afford to move out this has not discouraged them from dreaming of gaining independence and one day starting or adding to their family.

“With the prolonged impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, they are navigating the transition to adulthood in challenging economic circumstances and may be delayed in reaching certain milestones compared to previous generations.”

Researchers from the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies analysed data from almost 10,000 people born across the UK in 2000-02 who are taking part in the Millennium Cohort Study. In 2023-25, when they were age 23, study participants answered a series of questions about their living arrangements, partnerships, children, and future fertility intentions.

Living arrangements

Most young people still lived at home with their parents at age 23 (68%). A fifth (21%) lived in rental accommodation, one in 20 (5%) owned their own home, and the same number lived in other accommodation, such as university halls of residence.

A quarter of gen Z (23%) said they had not yet gained independence because they could not afford to move out while almost a fifth (17%) said they were living with parents to save for a deposit. One in eight (12%) reported that they did not want to leave the family home yet.

Relationships

More than half had a romantic partner (54%) and almost one fifth lived with their partner (17%). One in 10 had become parents by age 23. However, males and Black and Asian respondents were less likely to have started a family of their own or moved out of their parents’ house.

The majority of gen Z (61%) reported that they would definitely like to have children, or more children if they were already parents. Almost a third (30%) said that they might like children, or more children in future. Black and Asian respondents were more certain of their fertility intentions with around three quarters reporting that they would definitely like to have children.

The study’s authors examined how gen Z were navigating early adulthood compared to a cohort of millennials surveyed at a similar age a decade earlier. They found that gen Z were around three times as likely to be living with their parents (68% v 23%). They were also less likely to have started a family of their own.

Reaching adult milestones

Dr Booth added: “Our new research suggests that gen Z are reaching certain adult milestones later than previous generations, partly due to challenging economic conditions and the high cost of living, making it unaffordable for young people to move out.”

“Delayed adult milestones could lead to problems in the future, such as increasing mental health difficulties and decreasing fertility rates in this generation. Policymakers should consider helping young people to gain independence through policies that support them to find affordable homes and good jobs”.