Healthcare rarely tops the list when you are dreaming about a move, until the day you need it. Then it becomes the only thing that matters. Europe has a strong reputation here, but the quality, cost and ease of access vary a lot between members. This guide ranks all 27 EU countries on the care behind the reputation.
What actually makes healthcare good
- Quality of care: outcomes, modern facilities and well-trained staff.
- Access: how quickly you can see a doctor or specialist, and how short the waiting lists are.
- Cost: what is covered by the public system and what you pay out of pocket or through insurance.
- Coverage for newcomers: when and how you can join the public system as a resident.
All 27 EU countries by healthcare
Here is where MoveMap’s model rates each EU country for healthcare, best first, with cost of living alongside it (illustrative scores only):
| Country | Healthcare* | Relative cost* |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark | 86 | 82 |
| France | 86 | 70 |
| Austria | 85 | 74 |
| Finland | 85 | 72 |
| Germany | 85 | 75 |
| Luxembourg | 85 | 88 |
| Netherlands | 85 | 80 |
| Sweden | 84 | 78 |
| Belgium | 82 | 70 |
| Spain | 80 | 60 |
| Italy | 78 | 62 |
| Malta | 75 | 62 |
| Slovenia | 74 | 58 |
| Czechia | 72 | 52 |
| Ireland | 72 | 80 |
| Portugal | 72 | 55 |
| Estonia | 70 | 54 |
| Cyprus | 68 | 58 |
| Lithuania | 68 | 50 |
| Croatia | 65 | 48 |
| Greece | 65 | 52 |
| Latvia | 64 | 50 |
| Slovakia | 64 | 48 |
| Hungary | 62 | 48 |
| Poland | 60 | 45 |
| Bulgaria | 58 | 40 |
| Romania | 58 | 42 |
This ranking is for an average person. Rank all 27 for your passport, budget and family.
Rank them for meGood system, but can you use it
A strong public system only helps if you can access it. In most EU countries that means being a legal resident and paying in, often through employment or social contributions, while newcomers and the self-employed may need private insurance at first. If you have a chronic condition or specific needs, check the details for your situation before you commit.
Paying in is also the price of that coverage. Health contributions are part of the social charges on every payslip and invoice, and they vary a lot between countries: our overview of taxes in Europe breaks them down for all 27.
Match it to your needs
How much healthcare should weigh depends on your age, your family and any conditions you live with. If you are moving with children or planning to retire, read it alongside our ranking of the safest EU countries, since the two usually decide those moves together. To see how healthcare combines with safety, cost and pay, our ranking of the best countries in Europe to live weighs seven factors for all 27. The MoveMap check factors your health priorities into a ranking of all 27 EU countries built around your situation.