Physical activity is a cornerstone of human health, offering profound benefits that extend far beyond mere fitness. Scientific evidence demonstrates that regular moderate‑ and vigorous-intensity exercise significantly reduces mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases, the leading causes of death in the EU. This protective effect extends to a range of non-communicable diseases, including type 2 diabetes as well as certain types of cancer. Additionally, exercise acts as a natural mood enhancer, releasing endorphins that combat stress, anxiety and depression. In an era of increasing mental health concerns, the role of physical activity in promoting psychological well-being is more crucial than ever. Moreover, regular exercise has been shown to improve cognitive function, reducing the risk of age‑related cognitive decline and dementia (OECD/WHO, 2023[1]).
The urgency of promoting active lifestyles is underscored by estimates of the overall health burden associated with sedentary behaviour. In 2021, insufficient physical activity accounted for an estimated 1.2 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and 64 000 deaths in the EU, highlighting the ample potential to improve public health and reduce the strain on European healthcare systems by addressing this modifiable risk factor (IHME, 2024[2]).
Recognising the critical importance of physical activity for health and well-being, the WHO recommends that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate‑intensity physical activity. As of 2019, about one‑third of adults across the EU were meeting this recommendation. However, rates varied more than eight‑fold across European countries: the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark, along with Norway and Iceland had over half of their adult populations meeting the recommendation, while Malta, Bulgaria and Romania had more than 85% of adults falling short of meeting the WHO physical activity guideline (Figure 4.18).
In nearly all EU countries, the prevalence of sufficient physical activity was higher among men: on average, 36% of men in the EU met the recommended 150 minutes of weekly physical activity compared to 28% of women. Countries with lower overall activity levels tend to have larger gender disparities favouring men. The Slovak Republic, France, Czechia and Spain exhibited the most substantial gaps, exceeding 10 percentage points. Conversely, countries with higher overall activity levels showed smaller gender gaps: Sweden and Denmark stood out as exceptions, with women slightly outperforming men.
Looking at the prevalence of physical activity by frequency in a typical week, in 2022 about one fifth of the EU population reported engaging in some non-work-related physical activity at least daily, while half participated between one to six times weekly. Concerningly, one‑third of EU residents admitted to never engaging in non-work-related physical activity. The prevalence of complete physical inactivity showed significant regional disparities across European countries, following a north-west to south-east gradient. Inactivity rates varied more than tenfold, with countries like Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland reporting less than 10% inactivity. In contrast, countries such as Croatia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro had rates exceeding 50% (Figure 4.19).
Several EU countries have developed comprehensive plans to promote physical activity. For example, France introduced its five‑year “Sport and Health” Strategy in 2019, aiming to make physical activity accessible to all, regardless of age, socio-economic status, or location. The plan includes measures such as establishing “sport-health houses” for personalised support and training health professionals to prescribe physical activity as a preventive measure or treatment for chronic diseases (Ministère des Sports, 2024[3]). At the EU level, the European Commission launched the HealthyLifestyle4All campaign in September 2021. This two‑year initiative focused on promoting physical activity, healthy eating, and mental well-being through various activities, including the European Week of Sport. The campaign emphasised the exchange of best practices and innovative approaches to encouraging healthy lifestyles, with a special focus on reducing health inequalities and reaching disadvantaged communities.
