Words by

Andie Sophia Fontaine

Photo by

Bjarni Brynjólfsson

The majority of Icelanders report being in good health, but Icelanders also report chronic illness to a higher percentage than many other Europeans.

RÚV reports that 76% of Icelanders report being in either good or very good health. In terms of demographics, being in good health was reported by 80% of men and 73% of women.

At the same time, about 30% of Icelanders said they suffered from some kind of chronic illness; 35% of them women and 25% men.

When put in an international context, Icelandic men are the 7th self-reported healthiest of all European men, and Icelandic women the 9th healthiest of European women. However, Icelandic women are in second place amongst European women who self-report chronic illness, and in 7th place amongst men.