Ireland 7th most inactive country in Europe

In a recent edition of the UK medical magazine the Lancet, figures were published showing the levels of inactivity amongst the adult populations of various European countries.

The criteria for 'inactivity' is that the person in question does not meet recommended amounts of activity, such as walking briskly for 30 minutes or more five times a week or taking more vigorous exercise for 20 minutes three times a week

Inactivity causes between 6% and 10% of four major diseases – coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and breast and colon cancer, reported the Lancet. In 2008, it was responsible for about 5.3 million out of the 57 million deaths worldwide.


Out of 36 European countries, Ireland scored the 7th highest at 53.2%. This was better than the UK which was 3rd highest at 63.3% but still well behind some of the continental countries like France on 32.5% and Germany on 28%.

Level of inactivity..................% Pop / % Men / % Women
Austria     European Region     34.8     30.3     39.2
(13) Belgium     European Region     42.7     40.4     45
Bosnia and Herzegovina     European Region     33.6     30.3     37
Bulgaria     European Region     26.8     24.7     28.8
Croatia     European Region     23.6     26.2     21
(5) Cyprus     European Region     55.4     48.1     62.6
Czech Republic     European Region     25     27.6     22.3
Denmark     European Region     35.1     34.8     35.4
Estonia     European Region     17.2     15.7     18.8
Finland     European Region     37.8     40.8     34.9
France     European Region     32.5     27.7     37.2
Georgia     European Region     22.3     21.1     23.5
Germany     European Region     28     27.5     28.5
Greece     European Region     15.6     16.7     14.5
Hungary     European Region     26     26.4     25.6
(7) Ireland     European Region     53.2     47.8     58.5
(6) Italy     European Region     54.7     49.6     59.8
Kazakhstan     European Region     31.5     32     31
Latvia     European Region     32     28.1     35.9
Lithuania     European Region     22.6     20.3     24.9
(10) Luxembourg     European Region     47.7     49.9     45.5
(1) Malta     European Region     71.9     70.7     73.1
Netherlands     European Region     18.2     21.3     15.2
(11) Norway     European Region     44.2     43.4     45
Poland     European Region     27.6     23.5     31.6
(8) Portugal     European Region     51     47.5     54.4
Romania     European Region     38.7     31.2     46.2
Russian Federation     European Region     20.8     22.7     18.8
(2) Serbia     European Region     68.3     63.2     73.3
Slovakia     European Region     22.2     23.3     21.2
Slovenia     European Region     30     26.5     33.6
(9) Spain     European Region     50.2     47.4     53.1
(12) Sweden     European Region     44.2     44.1     44.3
(4) Turkey     European Region     56     49.5     62.5
Ukraine     European Region     18.4     20.4     16.3
(3) United Kingdom     European Region     63.3     58     68.6