Czechia steps up: New study ranks nation among Europe’s top 10 most fit

A new study ranking the fittest countries in Europe has placed Czechia in 10th place, with strong rankings in walking and cycling contributing to its position. The study assessed 32 European nations based on various health and activity indicators, including participation in physical exercise, obesity rates, and life expectancy.

Spain topped the ranking with a "fit score" of 8.9 out of 10, followed closely by Luxembourg (8.8) and the Nordic nations of Sweden and Finland (both at 8.6). Czechia, with a score of 7.6, placed just behind Denmark, France, and Ireland.

While the Czech Republic ranks high in walking and cycling, it lags behind in strength training and aerobic sports. Additionally, its obesity and life expectancy levels ranked lower than many of its neighbors to the west.

The study used a multi-factor index to evaluate fitness levels across Europe. The methodology included data from Eurostat, the World Health Organization (WHO), and national statistics offices, with factors weighted to calculate a final score out of 10.

One of the key factors measured was engagement in physical activity, which counted the percentage of the population aged 15+ engaging in non-work-related physical activities at least once per week. These activities included walking, cycling, aerobic sports (such as running or swimming), and muscle-strengthening exercises.

The study also measured physical inactivity rates, sourced from WHO data, that counted individuals across various age groups who do not engage in regular physical activity. Data for life expectancy and obesity were sourced from Eurostat.

Each of these categories was assigned a weight reflecting its contribution to overall fitness, with a percentile ranking formula applied to generate the final scores.

Czechia scored highly in walking participation, with 89.5 percent of the population engaging in regular walking for exercise or transportation. This is comparable to top-ranked nations such as Finland (95.7 percent) and Sweden (90.0 percent).

Cycling, another common form of physical activity, is practiced by 26.1 percent of Czechs weekly—higher than in Spain (7.9 percent) but lower than in the Netherlands (61.3 percent), where cycling culture is particularly strong.

Czechia ranks lower in other forms of exercise, however. Only 35.6 percent of the population participates in aerobic sports such as running or swimming, and just 18.5 percent engage in muscle-strengthening activities like weight training—one of the lowest figures among the top 10 nations.

The country's life expectancy of 80 years is also lower than that of most other countries in the ranking, including top-ranked Spain (84 years) and Luxembourg (83 years).

While Czechia’s placement in the top 10 suggests a relatively active population, the study’s broad focus on different types of physical activity highlights areas for improvement. Strength training and structured aerobic exercise remain less common compared to Nordic and Western European countries.

What are the least fit European nations? The UK ranked 25th out of 32 countries measured, while Greece, Malta, and Portugal came in at the bottom of the list.

The study ranking European nations by fitness levels was commissioned by Live Football Tickets, with data collected in January 2025 representing the most recent available statistics. The full data set can be found here.