“Wrong About Mzansi”: Average Age South African Kids Leave Home vs 4 Nations Sparks Debate
- A UK content creator broke down the average age at which children leave their parents’ home across 5 countries, including South Africa
- South Africa ranked third, with the average child leaving home at 26, sitting between Thailand and Vietnam
- South Africans flooded the comments with their own experiences, and many said the data did not match their reality
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Source: TikTok
A UK-based TikTok creator sparked a lively debate among South Africans after comparing the average age children leave home across five countries. @maxjefferytalks posted the video on 29 August 2026, and Mzansi had a lot to say about where the country landed.
In the video, the creator ranked the USA, Thailand, South Africa, Vietnam and Turkey in ascending order based on the average age at which their children move out. The USA and Thailand tied at the bottom with 25 years each. South Africa came in third at 26, followed by Vietnam at 27 and Turkey at 28.
Where South Africa stands
The creator noted that South Africans of around 26 tend to be split, with some living independently and others still at home. He suggested that in places like Vietnam and Turkey, strong family ties and cultural expectations around marriage keep children at home longer. For Turkey in particular, he pointed out that some adult children never move out, even after getting married.
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According to Eurostat data on young adults living with parents, the age at which children leave home varies significantly across regions and is closely tied to economic conditions, housing costs and cultural norms. Research published by the Pew Research Center has also shown that economic pressures are pushing the average age of leaving home higher globally.
Watch the full TikTok breakdown below:
Mzansi weighs in
South Africans in the comments were not short of opinions, and many felt the 26-year average was far too generous:
@Princekangomane27 wrote:
“Haibo, I live in Soweto, and Themba is 47 years old. He still lives with his parents. 🫣”
@allosiya said:
“I left home when I was 20 years.”
@Mshayeni ka Bodlimpi shared:
“I left for boarding school for grade 7 and never came back to live at home ever again.”
@Nom put it simply:
“In South Africa we don’t leave. 😅”
The reactions suggest the real picture in South Africa is more complicated than any single number can capture, with some leaving as teenagers and others never leaving at all.
More stories about kids and parents in SA
- A 19-year-old Johannesburg man shared a video, breaking down how much it costs to live alone in South Africa.
- TikToker Leo filmed his parents’ first-ever chiropractor visit, knowing their reactions would be unforgettable.
- A South African woman named Dikano took her parents car shopping and captured their emotional reaction on TikTok.
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Source: Briefly News
