Newsroom
Cyprus recorded the lowest number of deaths linked to illnesses that could either be prevented or successfully treated across the European Union in 2023, according to new data released by Eurostat.
The figures show that Cyprus had a rate of 152.6 such deaths per 100,000 people, placing it ahead of all other EU member states. Of these, 62.9 deaths per 100,000 were related to conditions that could have been managed with timely and effective medical care, while 89.7 were tied to diseases that might have been avoided altogether through prevention, including healthier lifestyles and early detection.
Across the European Union, the overall picture was markedly different. Around one million people under the age of 75 died in 2023 from causes that, in many cases, did not have to be fatal. More than 376,000 of these deaths were linked to conditions that could potentially be treated if caught and managed in time, while over 655,000 were associated with causes that are often preventable. The EU average stood at 237.7 deaths per 100,000 people, significantly higher than the rate recorded in Cyprus.
The data also sheds light on the illnesses most often behind these deaths. Heart disease caused by reduced blood flow emerged as the leading factor among conditions that could be treated, followed by colorectal cancer and breast cancer in women. The same heart condition also featured prominently among preventable causes, alongside lung cancer—which was the single biggest contributor—and illnesses linked to alcohol use.
Significant differences were observed between member states. The highest rates were recorded in Latvia, Hungary and Romania, all of which reported figures more than double that of Cyprus. At the other end of the scale, Luxembourg and Italy followed Cyprus with similarly low rates, though still slightly higher.
