The State of Health in the EU profiles provide a concise and policy-relevant overview of health and health systems in the EU Member States, emphasising the particular characteristics and challenges in each country. They are designed to support the efforts of Member States in their evidence-based policy making The Country Health Profiles are the joint work of the OECD and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, in cooperation with the European Commission. The team is grateful for the valuable comments and suggestions provided by Member States and the Health Systems and Policy Monitor network.

In 2015, 19% of adults in Ireland smoked tobacco every day, down from 24% in 2008. Excessive alcohol consumption was well above the EU average, with 32% of adults reporting having had at least six drinks in a single occasion each month in 2014. Obesity is an issue in Ireland: 18% of adults are obese based on self-reported data (and nearly one in four, 23%, based on actual measures of height and weight).