The 2024 Public Health France Barometer: A Strategic Tool for Regional Stakeholders

This survey reveals trends that must guide public policy and prevention efforts in Corsica. As at the national level, indicators are generally more unfavorable among the most vulnerable and those in the most precarious situations. Corsica also stands out for certain key characteristics:

• Addictions: Very high and concerning levels of tobacco use and vaping are observed among women, particularly younger women, with levels of desire to quit and quit attempts exceeding the national average. Regarding alcohol, however, Corsica is the region in mainland France with the lowest proportion of men exceeding the recommendations for lower-risk consumption.

• Sedentary Lifestyle: The region is the least sedentary in mainland France in 2024, although physical activity in Corsica, as at the national level, remains insufficiently integrated into people’s daily lives. Young people exhibit a high level of sedentary behavior: more than a quarter of them report spending more than 7 hours sitting per day.

• Mental health: Mental health indicators in Corsica are close to the national level or even more favorable regarding suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, for depressive episodes, women—particularly younger women—have one of the highest rates in mainland France. The extension into 2026 of the National Priority Initiative dedicated to mental health offers a renewed opportunity to strengthen efforts in the region, change perceptions, destigmatize mental suffering, and improve access to care.

• Chronic diseases: Corsica has one of the lowest reported rates in France for high blood pressure and among the highest for diabetes.

• Vaccination uptake: with three-quarters of adults reporting support for vaccination, Corsica is the region in mainland France with the lowest uptake rates, among both women and men.

A unique observatory to understand and influence the population’s health behaviors

With 35,000 respondents, including nearly 1,500 in Corsica, this survey is an essential tool for guiding public health prevention and information policies.

This survey, recognized as being of public interest and statistical quality, provides information that cannot be obtained elsewhere: individual behaviors, opinions, knowledge, and health events not captured by existing surveillance systems. The 2024 edition collects data on 20 major public health issues (15 presented for 2025 and 5 in March 2026): tobacco and alcohol use, physical activity, sleep, vaccination uptake, mental health…

Now updated every two years, these indicators reveal current health and social trends and thus provide the information needed to develop and evaluate public health policies.

Beyond the indicators, the Santé publique France Barometer highlights the influence of living conditions, social factors, and local environments on residents’ health. It also underscores the critical role of prevention, whether in the areas of mental health, substance use, health-promoting behaviors, or adaptation to the effects of climate change.