Health in Austria: Large Differences Between East and West

The Austrian Health Report 2025 reveals how differently Austrians perceive their health status depending on the federal state – both physically and mentally. There are also significant differences in medication intake, satisfaction with the healthcare system, and future expectations.

Upper Austria Healthiest, Burgenland at the Bottom

On average, 69 percent of Austrians feel (very) healthy physically. Upper Austria is significantly above average with 78 percent, closely followed by Tyrol and Salzburg (each 71 percent). Vienna follows with 70 percent. At the lower end of the scale: Burgenland (64 percent), Lower Austria (65 percent), and Carinthia (66 percent).

Mental Health: Vienna Leads, Tyrol Lags Behind

Mental health presents a different picture: Vienna leads with 80 percent, followed by Burgenland (76 percent) and Lower Austria (74 percent). Tyrol is at the bottom – only 58 percent feel mentally healthy there. Nationwide, it is 70 percent.

Daily Medication Intake Highest in the East

Every second respondent takes medication daily. In Vienna, it is the highest at 57 percent, followed by Lower Austria (56 percent) and Burgenland (54 percent). Medications are taken least often in Upper Austria (35 percent) – there, one-third report rarely or never needing medication.

Concerns About Supply: Salzburg and the East Skeptical

Only 45 percent of Austrians see the supply of medication as secure. The assessment is particularly critical in Salzburg (40 percent), Vienna, Lower Austria, and Burgenland (each around 41 percent). The most optimistic: Vorarlberg (51 percent).

However, there is consensus on one point: 86 percent consider domestic medication production important – the frontrunners are Styria and Burgenland with 90 percent approval.

Satisfaction with the System: Salzburg Tops, Lower Austria Dissatisfied

While only about half of Austrians are satisfied with the healthcare system, Salzburg shows particular satisfaction with 63 percent. It is followed by Carinthia (56 percent) and Vienna (54 percent). The least satisfied: Vorarlberg (42 percent) and Lower Austria (40 percent).

When it comes to the future of the healthcare system, people in Carinthia are the most optimistic with 51 percent. In Vorarlberg, however, only 27 percent believe that access to the healthcare system will remain fair in the future. Nationwide, the figure is 43 percent.

The representative study was conducted among 1,004 Austrians in the summer of 2025 by the Institute for Empirical Social Research IFES on behalf of Sandoz.

(Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.