74.0% of the Spanish population rated their state of health as good or very good in 2023. By sex, 78.0% of men declared that they were in good health, compared to 70.2% of women.
This positive assessment of one’s state of health is higher in men than in women for all age groups from 15 years onwards. Particularly from the age of 75 onwards.
Percentage of the population
57.7% of the population aged 15 and over reported suffering from a chronic health problem or disease. The percentage was higher in women (62.3%) than in men (52.8%).
The most frequent chronic problems or diseases in 2023 were high blood pressure (20.2%), chronic lower back pain (19.8%) and high cholesterol (18.3%).
Population aged 15 years old and over. Percentage
For children under 15, the most frequent chronic diseases were chronic allergy (8.3%), asthma (4.6%) and behavioural disorders (2.7%).
16.8% of people over 55 reported difficulty in performing Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) such as eating, sitting or standing up, getting dressed, going to the toilet or washing oneself. This percentage increased with age, affecting 66.5% of women and 42.6% of men aged 85 and over.
In all age groups, women reported more difficulty than men.
The most difficult activities were washing oneself (13.0% of the population aged 55 and over), sitting or getting up (11.7%) and dressing (11.6%).
Among those who had difficulties in any of the BADLs, 74.1% reported having technical or personal aids and 50.1% indicated that they needed help or more help than they currently had.
14.6% of the population aged 15 and over experienced depression in the two weeks prior to the interview and 8.0% were severely depressed. The prevalence of this symptomatology increased compared to 2020 (5.5 points more in severe depression and 3.7 points more in other depressive symptoms).
Population aged 15 years old and over. Percentage
Population aged 15 years old and over. Percentage
Of the population aged 15 and above, 22.6% had visited a family doctor in the four weeks prior to the interview and 14.1% to a specialist. Among children under 15 years of age, 23.5% visited a paediatrician and 8.2% a specialist.
6.8% of the population were hospitalised in the 12 months prior to the interview and 6.7% were treated in a day hospital. 23.0% of the population visited the emergency department in the last year.
In the two weeks prior to the interview, every second person aged 15 and over (52.4%) reported having taken a medicine prescribed by a doctor (46.2% of men and 58.2% of women). Additionally, 14.8% used non-prescription drugs (12.4% of men and 17.1% of women).
Consumption of prescription and non-prescription drugs increased compared to 2020 (0.4 and 0.1 points, respectively).
67.0% of the population aged 65 and over received the influenza vaccine (66.6% of men and 67.2% of women), which was 12.5 points higher than in 2020.
Six out of 10 people had their blood pressure checked in the year prior to the survey (62.3%), 64.1% had their blood cholesterol measured and 60.1% their blood sugar.
23.7% of the population aged 50-69 years had a faecal occult blood test for the early detection of colorectal cancer in the last year, 5.4 points more than in 2020.
68.4% of women aged 50-69 years reported having had a mammogram in the last two years. And 66.9% of women aged 25-64 had a Pap smear in the last three years. Both percentages were lower than in 2020 (73.8% and 72.6%, respectively).
55.0% of the population aged 18 and over were overweight (obese and excess weight). This problem was more prevalent among men (62.2%, compared to 48.0% of women). In the case of children aged two to 17, this rate stood at 23.3% (24.9% for boys and 21.5% for girls).
Obesity affected 15.2% of adults and 7.1% of children. Excess weight, 39.8% of adults and 16.1% of children.
Population aged 2 years old and over. Percentage
Daily smokers continue their downward trend. In 2023, a total of 16.6% of the population aged 15 and over claimed to smoke daily, 3.2 points less than in 2020.
On the other hand, 2.6% reported being occasional smokers, 20.7% ex-smokers and 60.0% never smoked.
By sex, the percentage of daily smokers was 20.2% for men and 13.3% for women. In all age groups there were more male than female smokers. The percentage of daily smokers peaked in the age group 25 to 34 years in men (26.7%) and in the age group 45 to 54 years in women (19.4%).
Population aged 15 and older. Percentage
1.60% of the population aged 15 and over used e-cigarettes in 2023, compared to 0.94% in 2020. The highest percentage of users was in the 15-34 age group (3.5%).
40.0% of those who used e-cigarettes used them daily and 60.0% used them occasionally.
On the other hand, 31.1% of the population aged 15 and over (40.8% men and 22.0% women) consumed alcohol every week. And 7.7% did so on a daily basis (12.3% men and 3.3% women).
7.8% of the population consumed alcohol heavily at least once a month in 2023, which was 1.8 points higher than in 2020. The percentage was higher among men (10.0%) than among women (5.7%).
The autonomous cities of Melilla (82.2%), Ceuta (82.0%) and Comunitat Valenciana (79.0%) were the regions with the highest percentage of people who rated their state of health positively in 2023. In contrast, Galicia (59.5%), La Rioja (65.5%) and Principado de Asturias (67.8%) had the lowest percentages.
The regions with the highest percentage of the population who saw a family doctor or a paediatrician in the four weeks prior to the interview were Galicia (32.2%), La Rioja (30.0%) and Castilla y León (29.9%). The greatest increases were registered in Comunitat Valenciana (18.2%), Comunidad de Madrid (18.3%), and Catalunya (18.6%).
Illes Balears (20.9%), Galicia (19.7%) and La Rioja (18.8%) were the regions with the highest percentages of the population who consulted a specialist. The lowest values occurred in Comunitat Valenciana (8.0%), the autonomous city of Ceuta (8.4%) and Castilla-La Mancha (10.1%).
The communities with the highest percentage of the population attending the emergency department were Illes Balears (36.0%), La Rioja (32.9%) and Galicia (31.5%). The lowest percentages were in Extremadura (13.2%), Comunitat Valenciana (14.0%) and the autonomous city of Melilla (14.5%).
The highest rates of obesity in the adult population (over 18 years of age) were found in the Canary Islands (20.6%), Región de Murcia (20.1%) and Castilla La Mancha (19.9%).
In the case of children under 18 years of age, the highest percentages of the population with obesity were found in the autonomous city of Melilla (21.5%), the Región de Murcia (10.3%) and Illes Balears (9.5%).
The regions with the highest percentage of daily smokers aged 15 and over in 2023 were Extremadura (21.5%), Comunitat Valenciana (21.2%) and Illes Balears (20.9%).
The lowest percentages were recorded in the autonomous city of Ceuta and Cantabria (both 9.9%), and in the autonomous city of Melilla (11.2%).
In terms of heavy alcohol consumption at least once a month, the highest percentages were observed in La Rioja (12.2%), the autonomous city of Melilla (12.1%) and Principado de Asturias (10.9%).
The data published today are final. All results are available on INEbase.
The Spanish Health Survey 2023 (SHS) is a statistical operation whose general objective is to provide information on the health of the Spanish population that is harmonised and comparable on a European level, with the aim of planning and evaluating health-related initiatives both domestically and internationally. The INE and the Ministry of Health are jointly responsible for the 2023 Spain Health Survey.
The objectives of the survey are: to provide information on the general state of health and to identify the main chronic diseases, to know the physical and sensory limitations of the population and people with limitations to carry out activities of daily living, and to obtain indicators on the population's mental. It also studies the degree of access to and use of health services and their characteristics, as well as unmet needs and preventive testing. Finally, health determinants are studied: physical exercise, diet, tobacco and alcohol consumption. Research is also carried out on the support and social relations of the population.
The data collection took place over 12 months, between September 2023 and August 2024, and approximately 21,000 households participated. The data have been weighted to be representative at the national and regional level.
The first stage units are the census sections. The second stage units are the main family dwellings, with all households having their usual residence there being researched. Within each household, an adult (15 years or older) is selected to fill in the Adult Questionnaire and in the case of minors (0-14 years), a minor is also selected to fill in the Minors Questionnaire.
More information on the methodology and the standardised methodological report.
INE statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Good Practice for European Statistics. More information on Quality at INE and the Code of Best Practices.
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