Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 3 on good health and well-being,which is embedded in the European Commission’s Priorities under the 'European Green Deal', 'An economy that works for people' and 'Promoting our European way of life'.
Furthermore, the indicator is a main indicator in the Social Scoreboard for the European Pillar of Social Rights.
SDG 3 aims to ensure health and well-being for all at all ages by improving reproductive, maternal and child health; ending the epidemics of major communicable diseases; reducing non-communicable and mental diseases. SDG 3 also calls for reducing behavioural (drugs and alcohol abuse, tobacco) as well as environmental health risk factors (traffic accidents, chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination). Main prerequisite for meeting these objectives are universal health coverage; access to sexual and reproductive health-care services and to safe, affordable and effective medicines and vaccines for all.
Member States have the main responsibility for their health care policy and for the organisation of their healthcare. However, EU Cohesion Policy aims at reducing disparities between EU regions, also in terms of endowment of health services. In addition, the EU climate and environmental policy also increases health and well-being.
4.1. Data description
The indicator of healthy life years (HLY) measures the number of remaining years that a person of specific age is expected to live without any severe or moderate health problems. The notion of health problem for Eurostat's HLY is reflecting a disability dimension and is based on a self-perceived question which aims to measure the extent of any limitations, for at least six months, because of a health problem that may have affected respondents as regards activities they usually do (the so-called GALI - Global Activity Limitation Instrument foreseen in the annual EU-SILC survey). The indicator is therefore also called disability-free life expectancy (DFLE). So, HLY is a composite indicator that combines mortality data with health status data.
HLY also monitor health as a productive or economic factor. An increase in healthy life years is one of the main goals for European health policy. And it would not only improve the situation of individuals but also result in lower levels of public health care expenditure. If healthy life years are increasing more rapidly than life expectancy, it means that people are living more years in better health.
Please note that a revision took place in March 2012: the whole series 2004-2010 were recalculated taking into account:
the use of the age at interview for the GALI prevalences instead of the age of the income period (as it is traditionally done for many income and living indicators); differences with the previous calculations on outcomes and trends are minimal
the latest versions of the EU-SILC and Mortality data
4.2. Unit of measure
Years, by sex.
4.3. Reference Period
Calendar year.
4.4. Accuracy - overall
From 2005 onwards EU-SILC is based on a common framework defined by harmonised lists of primary and secondary variables, common concepts, a recommended design, common requirements (such as imputation procedures, weighting, sampling errors calculation) and classifications aiming at maximising comparability of the information produced. Details can be found in the metadata of the source datasets (see link to related metadata).
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
ESS (SILC)
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (SILC). Data provider: Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, based on data reported by the countries.
See the relevant ESMS page
Data provider: Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, based on data reported by the countries.
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every year
5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
Indicator is updated annually. Complete and updated ESS data release information can be accessed via Eurostat release calendar.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+2 years
5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated within two years after the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
All EU MS
6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for all EU Member States plus Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS
6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
In principle, data are comparable between all EU Member States respectively other presented countries. However, there are comparability issues for years when the SILC model question is not followed by individual Member States (see point 6.4 on comparability over time).
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years
6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented time series (including EU aggregates) starts in 2004.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points
6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Comparability over time is affected by changes done by some Member States in the EU-SILC question used for the computation of the HLY indicator. No trend evaluation should be considering for years before 2016.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in the EU context).
The indicator of healthy life years (HLY) measures the number of remaining years that a person of specific age is expected to live without any severe or moderate health problems. The notion of health problem for Eurostat's HLY is reflecting a disability dimension and is based on a self-perceived question which aims to measure the extent of any limitations, for at least six months, because of a health problem that may have affected respondents as regards activities they usually do (the so-called GALI - Global Activity Limitation Instrument foreseen in the annual EU-SILC survey). The indicator is therefore also called disability-free life expectancy (DFLE). So, HLY is a composite indicator that combines mortality data with health status data.
HLY also monitor health as a productive or economic factor. An increase in healthy life years is one of the main goals for European health policy. And it would not only improve the situation of individuals but also result in lower levels of public health care expenditure. If healthy life years are increasing more rapidly than life expectancy, it means that people are living more years in better health.
Please note that a revision took place in March 2012: the whole series 2004-2010 were recalculated taking into account:
the use of the age at interview for the GALI prevalences instead of the age of the income period (as it is traditionally done for many income and living indicators); differences with the previous calculations on outcomes and trends are minimal
the latest versions of the EU-SILC and Mortality data
4 June 2024
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Calendar year.
From 2005 onwards EU-SILC is based on a common framework defined by harmonised lists of primary and secondary variables, common concepts, a recommended design, common requirements (such as imputation procedures, weighting, sampling errors calculation) and classifications aiming at maximising comparability of the information produced. Details can be found in the metadata of the source datasets (see link to related metadata).
