In 2023, 28% of third-country nationals aged 65 and over living in the EU reported being in poor or very poor health. This compares to 16.6% of those living in an EU country who are originally from other member states and an average of 18.3% among native residents in the EU, according to data released by Eurostat, the EU's statistical office.

In Cyprus, the percentage of third-country nationals over 65 who reported in 2023 that their health was in poor or very poor condition was 10.2%, significantly lower than the EU average. Among citizens from other EU countries living in Cyprus, this percentage was 17.7%, slightly above the EU average. Similarly, the rate among native residents was slightly above the EU average, at 21.0%.

Cyprus recorded lower rates than the EU average for those aged 45-64 who reported being in poor or very poor health: specifically, 3.6% of third-country nationals in this age group (compared to 11.0% in the EU), 5.0% of citizens from other EU countries (9.7% in the EU), and 5.5% of Cypriots in this group (8.3% in the EU).

Among those aged 16-44, all groups recorded very low percentages of people who reported being in poor or very poor health (below 5%), with the rates in Cyprus being significantly lower, under 1.5%.

Regarding gender, at the EU average level, among third-country nationals, 8.5% of women reported being in poor or very poor health compared to 7.3% of men. Among native residents, the rate for women was 9.8% versus 8% for men, while among citizens from other member states, the rate was higher for men (7.8%) than for women (7.4%).

In Cyprus, the rate of men from third countries who reported poor or very poor health was 3.0% compared to 1.3% among women. Among native residents, the rate was higher for women (7.1%) compared to men (6.4%). Among citizens from other member states, the rate was higher for men (3.9%) compared to women (1.3%).

The EU countries with the highest percentages of all third-country nationals with poor or very poor self-perceived health (aged 16 and over) were Latvia (28%), Estonia (17.5%), and France (14.3%). The lowest percentages were recorded in Italy (1.5%), followed by Malta and Bulgaria (both 1.8%).

Cyprus ranked quite low in terms of the category of third-country nationals (2.0% compared to 7.9% in the EU) as well as in the category of citizens from other member states (2.6% compared to 7.6% in the EU) and the category of native citizens (6.8% compared to 8.9% in the EU).