With 35,000 respondents, the 2024 edition of the Santé publique France Barometer collects data on 20 major public health issues, such as tobacco and alcohol use, physical activity, sleep, vaccination uptake, mental health, and more.

Published today, the results provide a national snapshot—and, for the first time, a regional one—of these issues. These results are presented in thematic summaries and through an infographic featuring key figures.

An observatory of the population’s behaviors, knowledge, and opinions, essential for guiding prevention and information policies

The Santé publique France Barometer addresses a wide range of topics (a total of 20 major public health issues by 2024) and pays particular attention to modifiable behaviors, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and sleep deprivation or sleep problems. These lifestyle habits are long-term risk factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Observing and analyzing these behaviors enables health authorities to tailor public information and prevention efforts around these targeted issues. Santé publique France contributes to this effort primarily by implementing prevention programs and managing its various online information and remote assistance platforms, such as Tabac-info-service.fr, Alcool-info-service.fr, MangerBouger.fr, SanteMentale-Info-Service.fr…

For example, the 2024 edition of the Santé publique France Health Barometer provides a new estimate of the number of people reporting that they smoke; an essential element for monitoring the third National Tobacco Control Program (PNLT) 2023–2027. Indicators on vaping and the behavioral effectiveness of the “Month Without Tobacco” campaign are also provided. Alcohol consumption is assessed in terms of exceeding the guidelines for lower-risk consumption.

An update of epidemiological data characterizing perceived health status, well-being, mental health (diagnosed depressive episodes, generalized anxiety disorders, suicidal behavior), average sleep duration and reports of insomnia, and injuries (falls, accidents, head injuries) is also available.

Furthermore, information regarding public awareness and adherence to recommendations on physical activity has also been updated. These new indicators will be useful for monitoring the National Nutrition and Health Program (PNNS).

Furthermore, this edition provides a new estimate of the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, including the proportion not treated with medication, and sheds light on the use of lifestyle interventions in the treatment of diabetes. It also updates the estimate of the prevalence of diagnosed hypertension, while estimating the rates of screening and drug treatment for hypertension.

The population’s knowledge and practices regarding topics such as heat waves and tick bites are also addressed. Adults’ knowledge of antibiotic resistance is once again assessed, in connection with the prevention campaigns against antibiotic resistance that have been organized in France and the National Strategy for the Prevention of Infections and Antibiotic Resistance implemented since 2022.

The 2024 edition also provides a new estimate for monitoring vaccination uptake, which has been conducted in mainland France since 2000; this monitoring has, more broadly since 2010, been part of measuring public acceptance of major changes in vaccination policies in France.

This survey also includes new modules: the perceived impact of extreme weather events on physical and mental health, food insecurity, and discrimination.

In 2024, public health issues explored across the entire country and a spotlight on social health inequalities to enable more effective action

By surveying a significant number of people in each region, the Santé publique France Barometer now provides a comprehensive set of indicators for each region (except Mayotte), enabling effective support for local stakeholders.

This survey also offers a unique opportunity to deepen our understanding of social health inequalities, a central issue for the agency. Through this edition, Santé publique France strengthens its ability to measure the association between social determinants (age, gender, education level, etc.) and the population’s health-related behaviors and knowledge.

The results of the 2024 edition thus reveal marked socioeconomic inequalities, depending on educational attainment, socioeconomic status, or perceived financial situation.
These inequalities do not always affect the same social groups:

• smoking and complaints of insomnia are more prevalent among disadvantaged social groups.

• exceeding alcohol consumption guidelines and a sedentary lifestyle are more prevalent among the most privileged social groups.

These findings help identify individuals with specific prevention needs. They serve as a tool for targeting and strengthening prevention efforts to best meet the needs of the regions and populations that need them most.

With the publication of these results, Santé publique France reaffirms its commitment to better understanding these inequalities in order to act more effectively to reduce them.