Overall, Latvia consistently recorded the highest percentage of unmet healthcare needs throughout the period, while Ireland and France remained the lowest. Another clear trend is the sharp rise in the United Kingdom towards the end of the period, contrasting with the general decline seen in Sweden and Latvia.
In 2008, unmet healthcare needs ranged from around 3% in Ireland to 17% in Latvia. Over the next four years, Latvia’s figure climbed slightly to just above 20%, representing the peak across all countries. Similarly, Estonia experienced a dramatic surge, rising from roughly 9% in 2008 to a high of 20% in 2012 before falling back to around 10% by 2014.
In contrast, Sweden showed a mild downward trend, dropping from about 13% in 2008 to around 10% in 2014. France and Ireland remained comparatively stable, fluctuating modestly between 3% and 6% over the period.
Between 2014 and 2022, divergent trends emerged. The United Kingdom, which had previously recorded one of the lowest levels at around 3-4%, rose sharply after 2018, reaching 15% by 2022. Meanwhile, Latvia saw a steady decline, falling from 17% in 2014 to approximately 10% in 2022. Estonia initially increased slightly, peaking again at around 16% in 2018, before decreasing to roughly 12% at the end of the period.
Overall, while some nations such as Latvia and Sweden experienced long-term decreases, others – particularly the UK – faced a worsening situation in recent years.