Cyprus had the highest percentage of excellent quality swimming waters in 2023, with 97.6%, according to data released by the European Environment Agency in collaboration with the European Commission.

Following Cyprus in the list of countries with excellent swimming waters are Austria (96.9%), Croatia (96.7%), and Greece (95.8%). In Belgium, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Malta, Austria, and Romania, all officially recognized swimming waters met at least the minimum quality standard.

Overall, in the EU, 85.4% of waters in 2023 met the criteria to be classified as "excellent quality." Additionally, 96% of all recorded swimming areas in the EU met the minimum standards, with only 1.5% rated as "poor."

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The standards assessed in the evaluation focus on safety for swimming, specifically targeting bacteria that can cause serious illnesses, rather than the general water quality.

The quality of swimming in coastal waters was generally better compared to inland waters, with 89% of classified coastal swimming areas rated as excellent in 2023, compared to 79% of inland swimming waters.

Since the issuance of the Bathing Water Directive in 2006, the percentage of swimming waters with poor quality has decreased and remained stable since 2015.

However, health risks from swimming remain a concern, as 321 "poor" areas were recorded in the EU in 2023.