According to Eurostat, Bulgarians are third in the EU in terms of longevity and good health, but is that true?

Bulgarian women are even further ahead in the ranking – in second place and live an average of 71 years in good health. They are only surpassed by women in Malta – and that by only a month. Men in Bulgaria are in fifth place in Europe with 66.3 years in good health. Men in Malta are the healthiest with an average of 71.7 years. On average in the EU, life expectancy in good health is 63.1 years, with women living 5.3 years longer than men.

"I am surprised by the data. We know our problems and they continue to exist," Boryana Boteva, chairwoman of the Association for the Development of Bulgarian Healthcare, told Radio Sofia. In a conversation with Danail Konov, she said that the study does not take into account the lack of preventive examinations or their formal implementation.

"Bulgarians do not go for examinations, so they do not know that they have underlying health problems," Boteva commented.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov
English publication: R. Petkova