Healthy life expectancy based on self-perceived health (sdg_03_12)

1.1. Contact organisation

[4D0] European Commission (including Eurostat)

1.2. Contact organisation unit

[4D1_E2] Eurostat - Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development

1.3. Contact name

Confidential because of GDPR

1.4. Contact person function

Confidential because of GDPR

1.5. Contact mail address

 5, rue Alphonse Weicker L-2721 Luxembourg

1.6. Contact email address

Confidential because of GDPR

1.7. Contact phone number

Confidential because of GDPR

1.8. Contact fax number

Confidential because of GDPR

2.1. Metadata last certified

20 May 2026

2.2. Metadata last posted

20 May 2026

2.3. Metadata last update

20 May 2026

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 and SDG 1 on no poverty as a multi-purpose indicator (MPI); which are embedded in the European Commission’s 2024-2029 Priorities under 'Supporting people, strenghtening our societes and our social model'.

SDG 3  aims to ensure health and promote well-being for all at all ages by improving reproductive, maternal and child health; ending the epidemics of major communicable diseases; and reducing non-communicable and mental diseases. SDG 3 also calls for reducing behavioural and environmental health risk factors.

4.1. Data description

This indicator estimates the number of years a person is expected to live in good perceived health. It is based on mortality data combined with data on self-perceived health as reported in the EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC).

4.2. Unit of measure

years

4.3. Reference Period

Calendar year.

4.4. Accuracy - overall

From 2021 Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 foresees the requirements relating to geographical coverage, detailed sample characteristics, including subsampling, in accordance with Annex III, common data gathering periods, common standards for editing and imputation, weighting, estimation and variance estimation.

Before 2021 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 Health variables of EU-SILC (europa.eu)).

4.5. Source data

4.5.1. Source data - Organisation

ESS (EU-SILC)

4.5.2. Source data - Comment

Data source: a combination of mortality data from demography statistics and health status data from Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC).

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 and Switzerland.

6.2. Comparability - geographical

6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade

All EU MS

6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment

Data are comparable between all EU Member States respectively other presented countries.

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

Length of comparable time series without methodological break is longer than 4 data points.

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).

7.2. Dissemination format - online database

See table sdg_03_12

7.3. Dissemination format - other

Eurostat dedicated section on SDGs: Eurostat overview.

Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.