Where Not to Live in Europe: Top 5 Most Disadvantaged Countries

Europe is traditionally seen as a region of prosperity and high development, which creates the widespread belief that all European countries enjoy roughly the same living standards without significant differences.

However, closer examination shows that this is far from reality. Even within Europe, and more specifically within the European Union, there are countries where the quality of life is noticeably lower.

While the situation in these countries is not as critical as in the worst countries for living in the rest of the world, it still deserves attention.
We analyzed five European countries that rank at the bottom in terms of quality of life and identified the key reasons for their low positions.

Top 5 Worst Countries in Europe to Live In

When selecting the countries, we relied on several important indicators, most of which are tied to economic performance, although we also included factors unique to certain countries.

Moldova

In recent decades, Moldova has been unable to escape the trap of poverty. With a GDP per capita of 5700 USD (only half of the average in the EU), Moldova is considered the poorest country in Europe. Economic problems directly affect daily life, and nearly one-third of the population (27 percent) lives below the poverty line.

One of the most pressing issues is the lack of basic infrastructure. As of 2024, 40 percent of villages have no centralized water supply. The main source of drinking water is wells, and water from them is not always tested for hazardous bacteria or chemical contamination. For comparison, in Italy, only 7 percent of settlements lack a centralized water supply, even though Italy is nine times larger than Moldova.

Regular power outages are another critical problem. Moldova has almost no domestic hydrocarbon reserves and must import energy. Due to the weak economy, the government is forced to save money wherever possible, including reducing electricity consumption.

Corruption in Moldova is deeply entrenched. According to the Corruption Perceptions Index, in 2024, the country scored 36 out of 100 points, where lower scores indicate a higher perception of corruption. Corruption exists at all levels, from the police to the highest branches of government.
Civil rights issues also remain unresolved. There are more than 166,000 “non-citizens,” people who reside in Moldova but do not possess Moldovan citizenship. They cannot vote in elections and face restrictions on their legal rights.

Systemic problems are worsened by the fact that the ruling elite prioritizes not preserving national identity but pursuing unification with Romania. This involves full political integration rather than regional autonomy, which would effectively erase Moldovan identity. As a result, the country faces a steady population decline. In the past 10 years, Moldova has lost up to 14 percent of its population due to migration.

Romania

Romania, despite being a member of the European Union, is considered one of the most problematic countries in Eastern Europe. Its GDP per capita is 13,000 USD (as of 2024). This may appear acceptable until you compare it with France, where the figure is four times higher.

Romania faces the issue of remote regions turning into isolated ghettos. The Roma are the largest ethnic minority in the country, and more than 650,000 of them live in such segregated settlements. In 78 percent of these areas there is no running water, and in 65 percent of cases, children do not attend school. The situation with schools is especially unusual: even where schools exist, there are no teachers willing to risk their safety by working there. As a result, children often have to walk 30–50 kilometers to the nearest school, since there is no public transportation.

Looking at the broader population, nearly 22 percent of citizens live in poverty, which is several times higher than the EU average. Children are particularly vulnerable: around 34 percent of them are at risk of poverty and periodically experience malnutrition.

Corruption is another significant problem. Although it is not as severe as in Moldova, Romania consistently remains in the middle of the rankings, scoring 46 out of 100 on the Corruption Perceptions Index. Systematic embezzlement and manipulation of public resources hinder reforms and slow the country’s development. The EU publicly states that this is unacceptable for a “mature democracy,” but aside from providing financial subsidies, it takes no meaningful action.

Systemic issues also affect the healthcare system. People may wait up to 12 hours in line simply to get an initial appointment with a general practitioner. The reasons are numerous, but the main one is chronic underfunding. Public spending on healthcare per capita is extremely low, leading to outdated equipment and neglected facilities, while low wages cause a constant shortage of medical staff.

Albania

Albania has undergone a dramatic transformation, though only partially successful. After the 1990s, “democracy” in the country emerged through uprisings and mass looting of military weapon depots. Because of this, experts estimate that civilians still possess at least half a million firearms. Albania eventually emerged from isolation, yet it continues to struggle with serious structural problems.

In 2024, 22 percent of the population live in poverty. Against this background, the country faces high social tension caused by a lack of jobs and worsening living conditions.

One of Albania’s most serious issues is mass emigration. Every year, around 42,000 people leave the country. This leads to a loss of young people, highly skilled professionals, and labor resources, further weakening the economy and undermining its recovery.

What is unique for a European country is that up to 50 percent of Albania’s roads are unpaved. This severely affects logistics between regions and prevents the government from fully benefiting from the country’s location on the Adriatic coast. This is not surprising, as Albania ranks worse than Romania in corruption perception, scoring 42 out of 100.

Travelers should also be aware that Albania has a high endemic prevalence of hepatitis. Around 10 percent of the population is affected. Infection can occur even by drinking tap water, since water filtration systems are worn out and unreliable.

Greece

Greece is still recovering from the debt crisis of 2008. At that time, the country regularly borrowed money from the EU to cover its budget deficit and refinance existing debts. The situation rapidly deteriorated when, in 2011, debt obligations exceeded the country’s GDP. The government introduced strict austerity measures, which triggered frequent public protests.

Today, the poverty rate remains high at 26.9 percent, further aggravated by high unemployment among young people. In 2023, 26.7 percent of young specialists were unable to find work in their home country, which led to migration to other EU states.

Corruption in Greece is at a moderate level, with a score of 59 out of 100 (higher than the EU average). However, the public reaction to corruption differs significantly from the previously mentioned countries. Corrupt practices that hinder reforms, slow down economic development, and limit improvements to living standards lead to social instability.

People regularly take part in protests, rallies, and mass demonstrations against the authorities. Strong political polarization contributes to this. Many political parties operate in the country, from liberal to neo-nationalist, and they mobilize people as part of their political struggle. These protests sometimes escalate into violence, reinforcing the sense of instability.

Systemic healthcare issues also remain unresolved. In one of the largest hospitals in Greece, the waiting list for cardiac surgery can reach 12–14 months. In emergency departments, the average waiting time used to be 8–9 hours, and only after the introduction of a queue-tracking system was it reduced to 5–6 hours.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina went through a devastating war in the early 1990s, and the country is still dealing with a dangerous legacy of anti-personnel landmines. About 838 square kilometers of territory, which is roughly one-fiftieth of the country, remains mined. Landmines still pose a real threat to the lives of both residents and tourists.

One of the most serious problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina is political fragmentation. The country is divided into two administrative entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska. Each has its own government, which often leads to paralysis in legislative and executive decision-making, because both sides regularly block each other's proposals.

According to surveys, every fourth young person, from 25 to 30 percent, wants to leave the country in search of better living conditions. This is a serious threat to the future of the state, because it loses educated and economically active citizens.

Another important factor that directly affects tourists and people planning to relocate is religious division. The population consists of Bosniak Muslims, Orthodox Serbs, and Catholic Croats. Even in large cities such as Sarajevo, different districts may follow their own informal rules based on religious traditions.

Summary

These countries cannot be described as prosperous. They struggle with systemic problems such as poverty, political instability, weak infrastructure, and limited social protection. The lack of progress pushes residents to migrate abroad, not so much in search of a better life but simply to gain normal living conditions.

There is hope that the governments of these countries will work on overcoming their weaknesses. However, considering the depth of the problems, the process will not be fast, and there is no guarantee that it will be effective.