Health and education services are unevenly distributed in Europe
Planet Volumes, Unsplash
In January 2025, Eurostat published a new geospatial dataset assessing the accessibility of health and education services in Europe based on travelling time by car. The study aims to identify localities with limited access to hospitals and schools, which can significantly affect the quality of life of residents in these regions.
The analysis used 2021 census data at 1km resolution, as well as road network information for 2020 and 2023. This made it possible to determine travel times to the nearest health and education facilities in different parts of Europe.
The study is based on data from registers maintained by public authorities in EU countries, such as ministries of health and education. The dataset was first released in 2023 and included the location, type, capacity and address of health and education facilities.
The analysis shows that health and education services are unevenly distributed across Europe, resulting in differences in time and distance to the nearest facilities. This is important to take into account when developing EU regional policies and for monitoring the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- In some parts of Europe, it takes more than 30 minutes by car to reach the nearest medical facility, making it difficult to access emergency care.
- Access to primary education also varies: travelling times are significantly higher in rural areas than in urban areas.
- The difference in service availability highlights the need for regional initiatives to improve transport infrastructure and make basic services more accessible.
This data helps to understand which regions need additional investment in infrastructure to ensure equal access to basic services. This is particularly relevant in the context of ageing populations and migration flows that are changing the demographic picture of Europe.
