Photographs: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters.
A good house is a dream for millions of people across the world.
Housing should offer a place to rest where people feel safe and have privacy and personal space; somewhere they can raise a family, says an OECD study which conducted a checklist on housing facilities across OECD nations.
In the OECD, households on average spend 22% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads.
The vast majority of OECD households, 87%, are satisfied with their housing.
Housing costs take up a large share of the household budget and represent the largest single expenditure for many individuals and families
Take a look at 20 OECD nations that offer satisfactory housing facilities...
United States
In the United States, households on average spend 20% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, below the OECD average of 22%.
Around 86% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, slightly lower than the OECD average of 87%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: The "super Moon" rises over some apartment buildings in Toronto.Photographs: Mark Blinch/Reuters.
Canada
In Canada, the average home contains 2.5 rooms per person, more than the OECD average of 1.6 rooms per person and the highest rate in the OECD.
In terms of basic facilities, an estimated 99.8% of people in Canada live in dwellings with private access to indoor flushing toilets, higher than the OECD average of 97.8%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: A horse grazes in front of derelict flats in the Ballymun area of North Dublin.Photographs: Cathal McNaughton/Reuters.
Ireland
In Ireland, 94% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, higher than the OECD average of 87%.
In Ireland, the average home contains 2.1 rooms per person, more than the OECD average of 1.6 rooms per person.
In terms of basic facilities, an estimated 99.8% of people in Ireland live in dwellings with private access to indoor toilets, higher than the OECD average of 97.8%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: A tower created from Lego bricks is pictured completed in front of Oslo City Hall.Photographs: Heiko Junge/Reuters.
Norway
In Norway, households on average spend 19% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, below the OECD average of 22%.
In Norway, 91% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, higher than the OECD average of 87%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: A motorcyclist rides past an abandoned house near the Doel nuclear plant.Photographs: Francois Lenoir/Reuters.
Belgium
In Belgium, households on average spend 20% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, slightly below the OECD average of 22%.
In Belgium, 95% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, much higher than the OECD average of 87%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: People cycle by the Kremlin as they take part in the "Let's bike it!" bike ride in central Moscow.Photographs: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters.
Russian Federation
In the Russian Federation, households on average spend 11% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, half the average OECD level of 22%.
About 62% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, much lower than the OECD average of 87%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: A car drives down the street near almost empty apartment blocks in the Madrid satellite town of Sesena.Photographs: Andrea Comas/Reuters.
Spain
In Spain, households on average spend 20% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, below the OECD average of 22%.
In Spain, 94% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, higher than the OECD average of 87% and one of the highest scores in OECD countries.
The average home in Spain has 1.9 rooms per person, more than the OECD average of 1.6 rooms per person.
In terms of basic facilities, nearly every dwelling in Spain contains private access to an indoor flushing toilet, higher than the OECD average of 97.8%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: A crane is seen over Sydney's skyline at a construction site in central Sydney.Photographs: Daniel Munoz/Reuters.
Australia
In Australia, households on average spend 21% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, slightly below the OECD average of 22%.
In Australia, 90% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, higher than the OECD average of 87%.
The average home contains 2.2 rooms per person, more than the OECD average of 1.6 rooms per person.
In terms of basic facilities, an estimated 98.8% of people in Australia live in dwellings with access to indoor toilets, higher than the OECD average of 97.8%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: The Netherlands.Photographs: Wikimedia Commons.
The Netherlands
In the Netherlands, households on average spend 22% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, in line with the OECD average.
In the Netherlands, 92% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, higher than the OECD average of 87%.
The average home contains 2.0 rooms per person, more than the OECD average of 1.6 rooms per person.
In terms of basic facilities, nearly every dwelling in the Netherlands contains private access to an indoor flushing toilet, higher than the OECD average of 97.8%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: The 54-story tall Turning Torso tower in Malmo, Sweden.Photographs: Johan Nilsson/Reuters.
Sweden
In Sweden, households on average spend 22% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, in line with the OECD average.
In Sweden, 92% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, higher than the OECD average of 87%.
In Sweden, the average home contains 1.8 rooms per person, more than the OECD average of 1.6 rooms per person.
In terms of basic facilities, nearly every dwelling in Sweden contains private access to an indoor flushing toilet, higher than the OECD average of 97.8%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: Lavender field.Photographs: Wikimedia Commons.
France
In France, households on average spend 21% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, slightly below the OECD average of 22%.
In France, 91% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, higher than the OECD average of 87%.
The average home contains 1.8 rooms per person, more than the OECD average of 1.6 rooms per person.
In terms of basic facilities, an estimated 99.3% of people in France live in dwellings with private access to indoor toilets, higher than the OECD average of 97.8%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: Tammerkoski, Tampere, Finland.Photographs: Wikimedia Commons.
Finland
In Finland, households on average spend 23% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, slightly higher than the OECD average of 22%.
In Finland, 93% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, higher than the OECD average of 87%.
In Finland, the average home contains 1.9 rooms per person, more than the OECD average of 1.6 rooms per person.
In terms of basic facilities, an estimated 99.3% of people in Finland live in dwellings with access to indoor toilets, higher than the OECD average 97.8%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: City Hall, London.Photographs: Wikimedia Commons.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, households on average spend 23% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, slightly above the OECD average of 22%.
In the United Kingdom, 89% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, slightly higher than the OECD average of 87%. This relatively high level of subjective satisfaction reflects the United Kingdom's good performance in objective housing indicators.
In terms of basic facilities, an estimated 99.5% of people in the United Kingdom live in dwellings with access to indoor toilets, higher than the OECD average of 97.8%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: Wellington.Photographs: Wikimedia Commons.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, households on average spend 29% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, the highest level in the OECD, where the average is 22%.
In New Zealand, 92% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, higher than the OECD average of 87%.
The average home contains 2.3 rooms per person, more than the OECD average of 1.6 rooms per person.
In terms of basic facilities, every dwelling in New Zealand has access to a toilet, higher than the OECD average of 97.8%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: Luxembourg city.Photographs: Wikimedia Commons.
Luxembourg
In Luxembourg, households on an average spend 25% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, above the OECD average of 22%.
In Luxembourg, the average home contains 1.9 rooms per person, more than the OECD average of 1.6 rooms per person.
In terms of basic facilities, an estimated 99.5% of people in Luxembourg live in dwellings with access to indoor toilets, higher than the OECD average of 97.8%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: Berlin.Photographs: Wikimedia Commons.
Germany
In Germany, households on average spend 22% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, in line with the OECD average.
In Germany, 93% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, higher than the OECD average of 87% and one of the highest levels in the OECD.
The average home contains 1.8 rooms per person, more than the OECD average of 1.6 rooms per person.
In terms of basic facilities, an estimated 98.4% of people in Germany live in dwellings with access to indoor toilets, higher than the OECD average of 97.8%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: Denmark.Photographs: Wikimedia Commons.
Denmark
In Denmark, households on average spend 26% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, higher than the OECD average of 22%.
In Denmark, 91.5% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, higher than the OECD average of 87%.
The average home contains 1.9 rooms per person, more than the OECD average of 1.6 rooms per person. In terms of basic facilities, nearly every dwelling in Denmark has access to an indoor toilet, higher than the OECD average of 97.8%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: Zurich.Photographs: Wikimedia Commons.
Switzerland
In Switzerland, households on average spend 24% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, above the OECD average of 22%.
Around 93% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, higher than the OECD average of 87%.
This high level of subjective satisfaction reflects Switzerland's good performance in objective housing indicators. In Switzerland, the average home contains 1.8 rooms per person, slightly more than the OECD average of 1.6 rooms per person.
In terms of basic facilities, an estimated 99.9% of people in Switzerland live in dwellings with private access to indoor flushing toilets, higher than the OECD average of 97.8%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: Iceland.Photographs: Wikimedia Commons.
Iceland
In Iceland, the percentage of their net disposable income households spend on average on keeping a roof over their heads is about the same as the OECD average of 22%.
In Iceland, the average home contains 1.6 rooms per person, in line with the OECD average. In terms of basic facilities, an estimated 99.6% of people in Iceland live in dwellings with access to indoor toilets, higher than the OECD average of 97.8%.
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These nations offer the best housing facilities
Image: Austrian rural area of Schoppernau in summer.Photographs: Wikimedia Commons.
Austria
In Austria, households on average spend 22% of their net disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, in line with the OECD average.
Around 88% of people say they are satisfied with their current housing situation, slightly higher than the OECD average of 87%.
In Austria, the average home contains 1.7 rooms per person, slightly more than the OECD average of 1.6 rooms per person.
In terms of basic facilities, the number of people in Austria living in dwellings with access to indoor toilets is slightly higher than the OECD average of 97.8%.
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