Demand for flexible workspace continues to rise across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). A new report from real estate firm Colliers shows that shared office models are becoming a major part of how companies plan and use space in the hybrid work era.
Since 2010, the number of coworking sites in the region has grown from 1,450 to 4,358. During the same period, the amount of space used by flexible office providers expanded by more than 6.3 million square meters, reaching a total of 8.3 million square meters.
Flexible offices now account for 2.4% of the entire EMEA office market, up from just 0.7%.
In 2024, there were 283 new coworking openings across EMEA, adding nearly 550,000 square meters. At the same time, only 80 locations shut down, a 15% decrease in closures compared to 2023.
Many of the new openings are smaller and more focused spaces. On average, newly launched sites were 23% smaller than those that closed.
Major hubs like London, Paris, and Berlin still have the most coworking space, but smaller cities are showing strong momentum. Locations such as Riga, Tallinn, Ljubljana, and Leeds saw significant activity in 2024. Cities including Leeds, Barcelona, and Copenhagen had the highest share of coworking in new office leasing.
Of the 82 new operators entering the market this year, most are based in one country. By the end of 2024, EMEA had 1,859 active coworking providers, and 72% were focused on a single market. Only 4% had a presence in multiple countries, showing how much local knowledge matters in this sector.
Coworking locations are also moving back to city centers. In 2024, 47% of new openings were in central urban areas, up from 34% the year before. This reflects a preference among companies for well-connected locations with access to amenities.
At the same time, demand is shifting in more mature markets. Larger companies are now a major driver, looking for office space that offers privacy and customization without long lease commitments. Operators are adjusting by offering a wider range of solutions, from small community-based spaces to large setups ready for enterprise use.
Coworking is also being included in new developments by landlords. Since 2020, 311 landlord-backed sites have opened across EMEA, covering more than 600,000 square meters. Seventy-two of those launched in 2024.
With limited supply of new premium offices and high building costs, flexible workspaces are expected to remain in demand. Coworking is becoming a central part of how workspaces are built, used, and managed across the EMEA region.
