How individuals assess their own health provides an overview of both physical and mental health. Despite its subjective nature, self-rated health is strongly related to morbidity and multi-morbidity and a good predictor of future healthcare needs and mortality (Palladino et al., 2016[1]).
Over two‑thirds of adults (68%) in the EU reported to be in good or very good health in 2023, while 23% reported their health to be fair and the remaining 9% reported to be in bad or very bad health (Figure 3.13). Men are more likely than women to report being in good or very good health (71% of men compared to 65% of women in the EU). Men are also less likely to report having some chronic diseases or disabilities than women (see indicator on “Chronic conditions and activity limitations among adults”).
The share of adults in the EU reporting to be in good or very good health has remained constant over the past decade, while the proportion reporting to be in bad or very bad health also remained stable.
Cross-country comparisons of self-rated health are affected by cultural factors that may influence responses to the survey question as well as demographic factors. Since older people generally report poorer health than younger people, countries that have a larger proportion of people aged over 65 or 80 are likely to have a lower proportion of people reporting to be in good or very good health. With these limitations in mind, the proportion of adults in 2023 considering themselves to be in good or very good health ranged from 75% or more in Ireland, Malta, Greece, Cyprus and Belgium to less than 50% in Lithuania and Latvia, and to about 50% in Portugal. In these latter three countries, a large proportion of adults (over one‑third) report their health to be fair (i.e. not bad but not good).
People on higher incomes generally rate their health more positively than those on lower incomes in all EU countries (Figure 3.14). Nearly 80% of adults in the highest income quintile in the EU countries reported to be in good or very good health in 2023, compared to less than 60% of those in the lowest income quintile. These socio‑economic disparities are particularly marked in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Croatia. These gaps can be explained at least partly by the fact that people in better health have higher employment rate and higher income.
Good self-rated health tends to decline with age. In many countries, there is a particularly marked decline in how people rate their health when they reach their mid‑40s, with a further decline after reaching retirement age. Among people aged over 65 in the EU as a whole, only 40% reported to be in good or very good health in 2023, while 18.5% reported being in bad or very bad health, and the remaining 41.5% reported to be in fair health. The gender gap persists as people age: only 37% of women aged over 65 reported to be in good or very good health compared to 43% of men. Chapter 2 on healthy longevity provides more information on trends in the health status of older people and inequalities, as well as policies to promote healthy ageing and reduce inequalities.
