Some Europeans Have Never Been Outside The EU

When it comes to holidays and travelling in general, Europe has a lot to offer. Cosmopolitan cities jam packed with culture, pristine beaches, excellent ski resorts, you name it. Given all of that, it comes as little surprise that many Europeans never travel outside the EU. The most recent Eurobarometer data showing the share of people who have travelled at least once outside the EU was published in 2014.

The following infographic shows the results of the research, with Swedes most likely to have been outside the EU. That is more than likely due to the long and open border with neighbouring Norway which is not part of the EU. The same story is likely true for Austria due to its proximity to Switzerland. People in newer member states in Eastern Europe are least likely to have been outside the EU with Bulgaria, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary and Romania all towards the bottom of the ranking. Interestingly, Portugal comes second last, possibly due to the fact that it only shares a land border with Spain. Only 18 percent of all Portuguese residents have travelled outside the EU.