Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Czechia

Summary of key data and information

	Summary of key data and information
Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1)	Homelessness is understood as a heterogeneous situation encompassing people who are roofless (sleeping rough), people living in emergency or temporary accommodation, as well as individuals living in insecure or inadequate housing conditions.
Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3)	160 517 individuals, representing 1.5% of the total population (2025)
	Point-in-time count, based on the Census of people from selected categories of the ETHOS classification
	ETHOS Light groups included	Included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing)
	Notes: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted. The total headline estimate covers living situations that extend beyond the ETHOS Light typology. Estimates for ETHOS Light 2 consider people in homeless hostels, while those for ETHOS Light 5 consider people in overcrowded dwellings and unfit housing.
Legal framework to collect data on homelessness (Table 4)	There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness in Czechia.
Homelessness Strategy (Table 5)	There is no national homelessness strategy in Czechia. Other (e.g. anti-poverty, housing) national strategy addressing homelessness: Social Inclusion Strategy 2021-2030
Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6)	Census of people from selected categories of the ETHOS classification: Census focusing on capturing insecure and inadequate housing (Table 6.1) Homeless People Census: Census on socio-demographic characteristics of people experiencing homelessness (Table 6.2) Services Report: National registry on homelessness services (Table 6.3) Census of Population, Housing and Dwellings: National population census including a question on homelessness (Table 6.4)

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness

Statistical definition

Homelessness

In the Social Inclusion Strategy 2021–2030, homelessness is defined in line with the ETHOS (European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion) functional definition. Homelessness is understood as a heterogeneous situation encompassing people who are roofless (sleeping rough), people living in emergency or temporary accommodation, as well as individuals living in insecure or inadequate housing conditions.

Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology

Year	Headline estimate of homelessness (Individuals)	% of total population	ETHOS Light 1 People living rough	ETHOS Light 2 People in emergency accommodation(1)	ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless	ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions	ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings(2)	ETHOS Light 6 People staying with family/friends
2019	NA	NA	11 608	Included under ETHOS Light 1	1 640(3)	Not included	Not included	Not included
2022	159 800	1.5%	12 000	Included under ETHOS Light 1	12 445	6 300	Not included	16 000
2025	160 517	1.5%	11 641	Included under ETHOS Light 1	13 890	4 769	8 167	11 000
Metadata: Type of count: Point-in-time Data are comparable across years: No Included in headline estimate: Children: Yes Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: No Refugees: No Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Yes

Note: The total headline estimate includes people experiencing homelessness and housing exclusion, which covers living situations that extend beyond the ETHOS Light typology. Data are only partially comparable across years, as not all ETHOS categories were consistently defined or covered in each census. Within the 2025 enumeration, homelessness and housing exclusion is operationalised according to the Czech language version of the European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion (ETHOS). For the purposes of the enumeration, the ETHOS typology was adapted primarily on the basis of the Methodology for the Enumeration of Homeless People in the Czech Republic – Extended Version (RILSA, 2023).

(1) Estimates for ETHOS Light 2 consider individuals in hostels for people experiencing homelessness. (2) Estimates for ETHOS Light 5 consider persons living in unsuitable flats in apartment buildings (including family houses), persons living with the owner's consent in non-residential premises and mobile dwellings, and persons living with the owner's consent in unsuitable cottages and cabins. (3) Compared to 2022 and 2025, the 2019 value for ETHOS Light 3 reflects only a limited sub-category (short-term public accommodation counted by municipalities).

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Count of individuals in selected categories of the ETHOS classification (Sčítání osob z vybraných kategorií klasifikace ETHOS – 2025; 47-souhrnn_zvren_zprva.pdf – 2022; Sčítání+osob+bez+domova+v+České+republice+2019+(VÚPSV,+v.+v.+i.).pdf -- 2019).

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2025

	Single adults	Men	Women	Youth (aged 15‑26)	Older people (aged 65 and over)	Families with children (# of households)
Headline estimate of homelessness	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 1: People living rough	11 641	9 273	2 368	600	916	NA
ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions	4 769	3 816	953	NA	728	NA
ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 6: People staying with family/friends	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Metadata: Type of count: Point-in-time Included in headline estimate: Children: Yes Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: No Refugees: No Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Yes

Note: Sub-groups are not mutually exclusive. ETHOS 4 includes homeless persons staying in medical and penal institutions; the headline figure represents the sum of these two categories.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Sčítání osob z vybraných kategorií klasifikace ETHOS

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness

	Legal framework
Law that governs data collection on homelessness	None.
Legal obligations	None.

Table 5. Homelessness strategy

	Homelessness strategies in place
National Homelessness Strategy	There is no national homelessness strategy in Czechia. Other (e.g. anti-poverty, housing) national strategy addressing homelessness: Social Inclusion Strategy 2021-2030
Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist	No

Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness

6.1. Census of people from selected categories of the ETHOS classification
Description The Census of people from selected categories of the ETHOS classification intends to contribute to the measurement of the dimensions of the ETHOS typology (individuals without a roof, without an apartment, insecure housing, and inadequate housing) in Czechia, with special focus on reporting the individuals which are ‘’more difficult to detect’’. The census builds on the 2019 homeless people census and seeks to capture the following groups: 1) People living in inadequate and insecure housing; 2) People living in ‘’more difficult to ascertain categories of insecure and inadequate housing; 3) People living without a roof and in shelters (it includes people living outside, in hostels and in shelters). The measurement of people living in inadequate and insecure housing was done through a combination of administrative data and service-based sampling. For the second category, people living temporarily with family and friends were reported by using secondary data (previous surveys, data from associations, etc.). The third category was reported replicating the methods used in the 2019 Homeless people census to allow for a comparison across years.
Type of count generated Point-in-time	Methods Administrative data Service-based method Street count
Lead authority(ies) Mandated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MPSV) and conducted by SocioFactor.	Source(s) of information Individuals experiencing homelessness when interviewed directly, service providers when providing information and public/non-public authorities when providing data from their registries.
Scope National level	Depth of data Sociodemographic characteristics taken into account and results disaggregated by: gender, age, education, socioeconomic status, etc.
Frequency Non-fixed periodicity. The census first took place in 2022.
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing) Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Notes and sources Official report_Census of People From Selected Categories_of_ETHOS
6.2. Homeless people census
Description The Research Institute for Labour and Social Affairs conducted a nation-wide census of homelessness in 2019 to create a database with sociodemographic information on the characteristics of individuals experiencing homelessness in Czechia; specifically of those without a roof and without an apartment. The census incorporated three data collection methods. First, street counts were carried out to count the number of people sleeping rough (89 municipalities). Second, a blended street count/service-based methodology was used to count the number of individuals experiencing homelessness living in shelters or located in other accommodation for the homeless. Lastly, the capture-recapture method was utilized in larger Czech municipalities.
Type of count generated Point-in-time	Methods Street count Service-based method Capture-recapture
Lead authority(ies) Mandated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and conducted/completed by the Research Institute for Labour and Social Affairs.	Source(s) of information People experiencing homelessness (through surveys), and service-based sampling (for the questionnaire submitted by service providers) and administrative data (for municipalities using the capture-recapture method).
Scope National coverage 403 Czech municipalities participated (54% of the Czech population covered), 17 of the 18 largest Czech municipalities participated.	Depth of data Sociodemographic characteristics taken into account and data disaggregated by: gender, age, type of place of sleep, length of stay without a roof and without and apartment.
Frequency Non-fixed periodicity. Only conducted in 2019
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Notes and sources Official report_CZE 1
6.3. Services report: Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MLSA)
Description National registry where the stock of services targeting people experiencing homelessness and at risk of homelessness is stored. This data contains information on the number and the composition of people who benefit from services such as emergency housing and asylum housing.
Type of count generated Flow (period)	Methods Service-based method
Lead authority(ies) Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MLSA)	Source(s) of information Service providers are the source of data used in the registry.
Scope National level	Depth of data Data disaggregated by: type of service provided and key demographic characteristics,
Frequency Annual
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Notes and sources Statistical yearbook (2022) National strategies to fight homelessness and housing exclusion Czechia Country profile Feantsa
6.4. Census of Population, Housing and Dwellings
Description Everyone who is registered as staying in Czechia for more than 90 days, has been granted asylum or lives in Czechia at the time of the Census must complete the census online or on paper. The questionnaire includes a question on homelessness.
Type of count generated Point-in-time	Methods Population Census
Lead authority(ies) Czech Statistical Office	Source(s) of information Individuals experiencing homelessness
Scope National level	Depth of data Data is disaggregated by region and territory.
Frequency Every 10 years. The last census took place in 2021
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Notes and sources Official results on homelessness in the 2021 Census

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population experiencing homelessness, https://www.oecd.org/content/oecd/en/data/datasets/oecd-affordable-housing-database.html.

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