Deaths caused by viral hepatitis in the EU have halved in a decade, but regional differences remain large.
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In the European Union, 3,172 deaths caused by viral hepatitis were recorded in 2023, which is 53.7% fewer than in 2013 and the lowest number since the beginning of the statistical series. Italy, Latvia, and Austria had the highest standardized mortality rates, and over a third of the deceased were under 65 years old.
The number of deaths caused by viral hepatitis in the European Union has decreased by more than half over a decade, reaching 3,172 in 2023, the lowest level recorded since data collection began in 2011. Mortality decreased by 9.3% in a single year and by 53.7% compared to 2013; however, the disease continues to disproportionately affect men, working-age individuals, and certain regions in southern Europe and the French outermost regions.
Italy had the highest standardized mortality rate among member states, with 1.62 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Latvia with 1.54, and Austria with 1.02. Regionally, the highest values were recorded in Mayotte and French Guiana, followed by Campania, Puglia, and Sardinia.
In summary
In the EU, 3,172 deaths caused by viral hepatitis were recorded in 2023, which is 327 fewer than in the previous year and 3,684 fewer than in 2013.
2. Men represented 58.3% of the deceased, and 35.7% of deaths occurred among individuals under 65 years old.
3. Italy, Latvia, and Austria had the highest standardized mortality rates, while Luxembourg reported no deaths caused by viral hepatitis in 2023.
4. Fifteen European regions recorded at least 1.5 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, ten of which are in Italy.
5. Projects funded through EU4Health expand testing, vaccination, and access to care in migrant communities, shelters for homeless individuals, prisons, and other settings where medical services are less accessible.
The 3,172 deaths recorded in 2023 represent a 9.3% decrease compared to the 3,499 reported in 2022. Compared to 2013, when viral hepatitis caused 6,856 deaths, the number has decreased by 53.7%.
The data includes deaths of residents of member states, regardless of whether they occurred in the country of residence or abroad. They refer to cases where viral hepatitis was recorded as the cause of death.
Men represented 58.3% of the total number of deaths due to viral hepatitis. The disease affected both older individuals and the working-age population, with 35.7% of deaths recorded among individuals under 65 years old.
The proportion is considerably higher than that observed for overall mortality. Of all deaths in the EU in 2023, only 14.8% involved individuals under 65 years old.
The standardized rate at the Union level was 0.64 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. Standardization adjusts for differences in age structures of populations and allows comparisons between countries and regions with different proportions of young and elderly individuals.
Italy recorded the highest rate among member states, with 1.62 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. Latvia followed with 1.54, and Austria with 1.02. At the other end of the ranking, Luxembourg reported no deaths caused by viral hepatitis in 2023, while Finland recorded a rate of 0.07 and Slovenia 0.13.
Differences are even more visible at the regional level. Fifteen regions had rates of at least 1.5 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants: ten in Italy, two in France, and one each in Austria and Romania. Latvia appears as a single region at this level of statistical analysis.
The highest rate was recorded in Mayotte, with 4.86 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by French Guiana with 2.80. In Italy, the highest values were in Campania, with 2.65, Puglia, with 2.58, and Sardinia, with 2.48.
Regional rates do not indicate the absolute number of deceased individuals and can be more strongly influenced by a small number of cases in regions with smaller populations. However, they allow for the identification of areas where mortality is higher relative to the size and structure of the population.
Viral hepatitis encompasses several infections that cause inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis B and C can progress to chronic forms and lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Socially marginalized individuals face additional risks and barriers in accessing medical services. Documents from the European Health and Digital Executive Agency indicate transmission through sexual contact or through the shared use of drug injection equipment, and in some countries, through exposure in hospitals and other medical facilities.
Several projects funded through EU4Health aim to reduce the burden of viral hepatitis by bringing services closer to communities with limited access to medical systems.
MOBHOPE uses mobile units that move through streets, in shelters for homeless individuals, prisons, and migrant communities. They offer on-site testing, counseling, and direct links to specialized services.
The project also develops training materials for staff, communication tools for targeted communities, and digital data collection systems. Harmonized indicators would allow for real-time monitoring, comparison of results between countries, and expansion of the mobile clinic model.
HEP-HOP aims to expand community testing, vaccination against hepatitis B, and access to care. Its activities target migrant and refugee populations at risk in Belgium, Latvia, and Spain.
The project addresses misinformation and vaccine hesitancy and prepares community workers and teachers for culturally and linguistically adapted programs. These activities are intended for decentralized testing and creating vaccination opportunities outside traditional medical services.
PACE focuses on reducing cancers associated with hepatitis B and C in prisons. The project identifies best practices, develops models that can be applied in different prison systems, and creates a multinational network for data collection and monitoring.
Activities also include training medical staff, prison employees, and other professionals to maintain and expand interventions.
JA SHIELD aims to reduce mortality caused by cancers associated with infections and those that can be prevented through vaccination, including liver cancer related to viral hepatitis. The project maps preventive measures and identifies obstacles that hinder their implementation, with a focus on stigmatization and discrimination.
EU4Health funds national authorities, health organizations, and other structures through grants and public procurement. The European Health and Digital Executive Agency manages most of the program's budget and implements calls and funding procedures for the period 2021–2027.
The decrease in deaths is not uniform among states and regions. Differences between national rates and the concentration of high values in certain territories show that access to prevention, diagnosis, and care remains unequal within the Union.
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