Cyprus has claimed the top spot in Europe for having the cleanest bathing water

According to data released by the European Environment Agency, Cyprus emerged as the country with the highest percentage of bathing water of excellent quality in 2023. This achievement reached a remarkable 97.6% on the island.

Following Cyprus in the list of countries with excellent bathing waters are Austria (96.9%), Croatia (96.7%), and Greece (95.8%). In Belgium, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Malta, Austria, and Romania, all officially recognized bathing waters met the required quality standards.

The study highlights that in 2023, 85.4% of water in the EU met the criteria for "excellent quality," while 96% of all EU territories designated as bathing waters met minimum standards, with only 1.5% rated as "poor."

The standards outlined in the assessment focus on swimming safety, prioritizing bacteria that can cause serious illnesses in people rather than overall water quality.

Coastal waters generally boasted better bathing quality than inland waters: in 2023, 89% of coastal bathing areas were classified as excellent compared to 79% of inland waters.

Since the introduction of the Bathing Water Directive in 2006, the percentage of bathing water with poor quality has decreased and remained stable since 2015.

However, health risks associated with swimming remain a concern: in 2023, the EU recorded 321 "poor" zones.