Key facts

• In 2023, 28 622 cases of hepatitis C were reported in 29 EU/EEA countries, corresponding to a crude rate of 7.4 cases per 100 000 population.
• Of the cases reported, 4.9% were acute, 34.1% chronic, and 53.8% were unknown. Seven percent could not be classified due to an incompatible data format.
• Hepatitis C was more commonly reported among men than women, with a male-to female ratio of 1.7:1. The most affected age group among males and females was 35–44 years (6.1 cases per 100 000 population).
• The most common transmission mode was injecting drug use, which accounted for 54.4% of acute cases and 68.2% of chronic cases with complete information on transmission route.
• The interpretation of hepatitis C notification data across countries remains problematic, with differences in surveillance systems, various testing/screening policies, and difficulties in differentiating acute, chronic and reinfection cases. Improvements in data quality and a revision of the current case definition are needed to better describe the progress towards elimination goals.