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

The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) region generally follows the trends observed across France. Sixty-eight percent of residents report being in very good or good health, a figure that is in line with the average for French regions. As at the national level, a strong socioeconomic gradient is observed for many indicators, with a less favorable situation among socially disadvantaged individuals.

This survey also reveals specific regional dynamics and vulnerabilities that should guide public policy and prevention efforts:

• Smoking rates are declining but remain very high in the region

While smoking is clearly on the decline in PACA as well as in France compared to 2021, the proportion of daily smokers in the region remains the highest in France among men and one of the highest among women, with 1 in 5 adults reporting that they are daily smokers. Smokers are also more likely to say they want to quit, but they do not necessarily follow through with an attempt to quit as often as in other regions.

• A region still lagging behind on vaccination

While 3 out of 4 adults in the PACA region say they are in favor of vaccination, the uptake rate is one of the lowest in France and has not increased. The level of reluctance toward vaccination, particularly among young people and women, is higher than the national average.

• Efforts must continue to improve mental health

More than one in six adults report having experienced a depressive episode in the past 12 months, while 6% suffer from generalized anxiety disorder and 5% have suicidal thoughts. While regional rates for all genders are close to the national average, PACA ranks among the regions with the highest reported prevalence of depression and suicidal thoughts among men, particularly among young people aged 18 to 29, and a high proportion of them do not seek care. The extension of the National Priority Initiative on Mental Health through 2026 offers a renewed opportunity to change perceptions, destigmatize mental suffering, and improve access to care.

• The impact of climate change on health is already visible

Particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) region is already facing a visible impact on public health: in 2024, it was one of the regions reporting the highest levels of physical and psychological distress following an extreme event that occurred over the past two years. The climate emergency is forcing us to rethink our current lifestyles, particularly how we get around, even as three-quarters of the region’s residents continue to rely on motorized transportation to get to work and more than a third use it for short daily trips.

• Addressing Social and Gender Inequalities: The Challenge for Prevention Policies

While the most disadvantaged populations have the worst health indicators, the results show that disparities also affect young people aged 18 to 29, students or those in training, and women. These data highlight the need to develop inclusive interventions tailored to specific regions and vulnerable populations, such as health mediation, which has been implemented in priority neighborhoods under the city policy in Marseille and more recently in Avignon through the “13 en santé” project.

A unique observatory for understanding and influencing the population’s health behaviors

With 35,000 respondents, including more than 2,100 in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, this survey is an essential tool for guiding public health prevention and information policies.

This survey, recognized as being of public interest and of high statistical quality, provides information that cannot be obtained elsewhere: individual behaviors, opinions, knowledge, and health events that are 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.