ELSTAT: Chronic health conditions affect 24% of Greece’s population
The survey found that 24% of the population aged 16 and over report a long-term health problem lasting more than six months, with higher rates among women (26.5%) compared to men (21.4%). Overall, 78.5% of respondents described their health as good or very good, 14.5% as moderate, and 7% as poor or very poor.
Health-related limitations are also significant, with 8.7% of respondents reporting severe restrictions in daily activities for at least six months, and a further 9.1% experiencing milder limitations.
In terms of physical condition, 42.1% of adults are overweight and 12.9% obese, while 43.1% fall within a normal weight range and 1.9% are underweight. Excess weight is more common among men, with nearly half (48.5%) classified as overweight, compared to 36% of women.
The survey also recorded functional difficulties among the population. Around 17.3% reported vision problems and 9.9% hearing difficulties, while 15.1% face mobility issues. Difficulties with memory or concentration affect 9.9% of the population, and 8% report challenges with self-care. In most cases, these issues are more prevalent among those aged 65 and over.
Access to healthcare remains a concern. Of those who needed medical examination or treatment in the past 12 months (57.6% of the population), 21.5% said they did not receive care every time they needed it. The gap is wider among lower-income groups, where 20.5% reported unmet needs, compared to 10.5% among the non-poor population.
Dental care access appears even more limited. Nearly half of respondents (47.4%) needed dental services, but 30.5% did not receive care when required—mainly due to financial reasons, cited by 71.6% of those affected.
In terms of lifestyle, 22.6% of adults smoke daily, with significantly higher rates among men (29.6%) than women (15.9%). Daily alcohol consumption was reported by 3.8% of the population, while about one-third (34.3%) said they do not consume alcohol at all.
Dietary habits show that around 60% of adults consume vegetables daily and 56.9% eat fruit every day, while 11.8% report no physical exercise during a typical week.
Finally, the survey indicates that healthcare costs remain a burden for some households, with 6.2% reporting heavy financial strain from medical care, 3.6% from dental services, and 10.5% from spending on medicines or vitamins.
