Daily smokers are defined as the population aged 15 years and over who are reporting to smoke every day. Smoking is a major risk factor for at least two of the leading causes of premature mortality - circulatory disease and cancer, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, lung cancer, and cancers of the larynx and mouth. In addition, smoking is an important contributing factor for respiratory diseases. This indicator is presented as a total and per gender and is measured as a percentage of the population considered (total, men or women) aged 15 years and over.

Alcohol consumption is defined as annual sales of pure alcohol in litres per person aged 15 years and older. Alcohol use is associated with numerous harmful health and social consequences, including an increased risk of a range of cancers, stroke and liver cirrhosis. Alcohol also contributes to death and disability through accidents and injuries, assault, violence, homicide and suicide. This indicator is measured in litres per capita (people aged 15 years and older).

The overweight or obese population is defined as the inhabitants with excessive weight presenting health risks because of the high proportion of body fat. The most frequently used measure is based on the body mass index (BMI), which is a single number that evaluates an individual's weight in relation to height (weight/height², with weight in kilograms and height in metres). Based on the WHO classification, adults with a BMI from 25 to 30 are defined as overweight, and those with a BMI of 30 or over as obese. This indicator is presented both for "self-reported" data (estimates of height and weight from population-based health interview surveys) and "measured" data (precise estimates of height and weight from health examinations) and is measured as a percentage of the population aged 15 years and older.

Social support indicates the share of people who report having friends or relatives whom they can count on in times of trouble. Individuals who say they have family and friends they can count on to help them in times of trouble are consistently more likely to be satisfied with their personal health, and research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. Due to small sample sizes, country averages for horizontal inequalities (by age, gender and education) are pooled between 2010-20 to improve the accuracy of the estimates. The survey sample is ex ante designed to be nationally representative of the population aged 15 or over (including rural areas). This indicator is measured as a percentage of survey respondents. Education: Indicators sourced from the Gallup World Poll correspond to: completed elementary education or less (up to eight years of basic education) for “primary” level; completed some secondary education up to three years tertiary education (9 to 15 years of education) for “secondary” level; and completed four years of education beyond “high school” and/or received a four-year college degree for “tertiary” level. Age: Young people are those aged 15 to 29; middle-aged people are those aged 30 to 49, and older people are those aged 50 and over.