Young Europeans feel healthiest in the Mediterranean, Eurostat finds
A large majority of young Europeans report feeling healthy and well — with the highest levels of self-reported wellbeing found in southern, sun-soaked countries, according to new data from Eurostat.
As of the end of 2024, 90.1% of EU citizens aged 16 to 29 said they felt "good" or "very good". The results come from Eurostat's latest analysis of perceived health, a key indicator of overall wellness as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) — not just the absence of disease, but complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing.
Mediterranean countries dominate the top of the rankings. Italy, for example, reported a remarkable 95.3% rate of young people feeling well — exceeded only by Romania, Greece, Croatia, and Slovakia. Other countries showing high levels of perceived health include Malta and Cyprus.
In contrast, the Baltic states — Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania — along with Scandinavian countries like Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, reported significantly lower levels of self-assessed wellbeing among their youth.
Wealth, weather, and wellbeing
Eurostat’s findings show a strong correlation between income and health. “There is a clear pattern in almost all EU countries,” the report says, noting that higher income is consistently linked to better perceived health.
But income isn’t the only factor. The data suggest that climate and lifestyle also play a significant role. While Eurostat did not provide an official interpretation, the trend is clear: young people living by the sun and sea report feeling much better than their peers in colder, cloudier climates.
Whether it’s economic comfort, Mediterranean sunshine, or the slower pace of southern living, one thing is certain: Europe’s happiest youth live in the south.
