Youth Health Perceptions in the EU: Eurostat Survey 2024

According to Eurostat data for 2024, the majority of young people in the EU (90.1%) consider themselves to be in good or very good health. However, there is a slight decrease compared to 2010 (92%).

The countries with the highest rates of positive health perception among young people are Romania (98.2%), Greece (97.7%), and Croatia (96.2%). In contrast, young people in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark report lower rates.

Socio-economic inequalities play a significant role. 86.7% of young people with lower incomes consider their health to be good or very good, compared to 94% in the higher income group. The largest difference between income groups is observed in the Netherlands (22.9%), Finland (16.9%), and Ireland (10.6%). In Cyprus, the difference is only 0.5%.

Chronic health problems affect 16.3% of young people in the EU. Women are more likely to experience long-term health problems than men, particularly in Finland, Denmark, and Sweden.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as 'a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.'