In 2023, Cyprus recorded the lowest rate of avoidable deaths in the European Union, with 152.6 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, of which 62.9 were from treatable and 89.7 from preventable diseases and conditions.
According to data published on Thursday by Eurostat, across the EU as a whole, approximately 1.0 million people under the age of 75 died from diseases and conditions that could have been treated or prevented. Of these deaths, 376,434 were due to treatable conditions and 655,321 to preventable diseases. The standardised death rate from all avoidable causes was 237.7 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, of which 86.8 were treatable and 150.9 preventable.
Heart disease
The most common cause of death from treatable diseases was ischemic heart disease, with 72,845 deaths (16.6 per 100,000 inhabitants), which is also classified as preventable. This was followed by colorectal cancer with 56,993 deaths (13.0 per 100,000 inhabitants) and breast cancer in women with 39,989 deaths (9.2 per 100,000 inhabitants).
For preventable diseases, the leading cause of death was lung cancer, with 135,584 deaths (30.8 per 100,000 inhabitants), followed by ischemic heart disease with 72,845 deaths (16.6) and alcohol-related disorders and poisonings with 50,593 deaths (11.7).
Eurostat notes that the largest variations among Member States were observed in Latvia (498.5 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants), Hungary (472.7), and Romania (463.7). After Cyprus, the lowest rates were recorded in Luxembourg (157.6) and Italy (160.3).