Too much alcohol and not enough exercise: Luxembourg in OECD report on Europe's health
Pablo Merchán Montes, Unsplash
The Health at a Glance: Europe 2024 report provides a wealth of information on the state of health care in the European Union (EU). When examined in more detail, Luxembourg's health system presents an interesting mix of successes and challenges, standing out in some areas but facing typical small country challenges such as dependence on external systems.
In the EU, only 62.4 years of life expectancy is considered healthy, while the remaining 20 years are marred by illness or disability. In Luxembourg, the figure is 63.1 years but, as in other countries, there is a high proportion of chronic conditions in old age.
Despite the small longevity advantage, the overall European challenge is to improve the quality of those extra years, which requires an emphasis on prevention and health promotion.
More than 35% of doctors in the EU are over 55 years old. In Luxembourg, this trend is also pronounced: about 40 per cent of health workers are close to retirement age, exacerbating staff shortages.
Luxembourg relies on neighbouring countries such as France, Belgium and Germany to fill this gap, with 40-50% of doctors in border regions serving the Luxembourg healthcare system.
- In the EU, the average alcohol consumption is 10 litres per adult per year, while in Luxembourg the figure is much higher at 12 litres, putting the country among the leaders in this respect.
- Alcohol abuse: More than 30% of adults in Luxembourg report heavy drinking episodes at least once a month, compared with an EU average of 19%.
- Smoking: In the EU, 18.4% of adults are regular smokers. In Luxembourg, the figure is slightly higher, with an increase among adolescents.
- Vaping: Luxembourg has one of the highest rates of e-cigarette use among young people: 20% of young people aged 15-24 regularly use vapes.
- Trends among adolescents: Traditional smoking among adolescents is declining, but e-cigarette use is increasing, posing a new threat to public health.
- More than 25% of adolescents in Luxembourg consume sugary drinks daily, well above the EU average of 14%.
- Consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables decreased by 20 per cent from 2017 due to rising prices.
- More than 50% of adults in Luxembourg are overweight or obese, in line with the EU average. Among adolescents, 20% are overweight.
- Only 15% of young people in Luxembourg meet WHO recommendations for physical activity.
Luxembourg shows above-average rates of cannabis use among adolescents, with 7% of 15-year-olds reporting use in the last month.
Data Integration in the EU:
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
However, access to digital health for the elderly population remains a challenge, especially as 22% of the population in Luxembourg is over 65 years old.
Air pollution
Climate change
Luxembourg's role in the EU health system
Luxembourg provides a unique example of the opportunities and challenges for small, developed EU countries. Its reliance on cross-border healthcare emphasises the importance of regional cooperation, and its economic resources make it a leader in innovation. However, demographic ageing, staff shortages, rising chronic diseases and lifestyle risks require urgent attention.
- Life expectancy: 82.6 years in Luxembourg is just above the EU average (81.5 years), but healthy years are only 63.1 years.
- Medical staff: 3.0 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants - well below the EU average (4.2).
- Lifestyle risks: Alcohol consumption, vaping and obesity require immediate action.
By focusing on prevention, digital health and lifestyle change, Luxembourg can move even closer to the EU's vision of sustainable and equitable health systems.
