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Europe’s cleanest and dirtiest swimming spots revealed in latest report
More than three-quarters of monitored bathing waters across the European Union, Albania, and Switzerland were rated as "excellent" in 2024, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA). The annual report, published on Friday, also found that only 1.5 percent of swimming areas were classified as "poor," while 96 percent met the EU's minimum "sufficient" standard.
The EEA’s assessment, which covers over 22,000 beaches, lakes, and rivers, monitors water quality for pollutants like Escherichia coli (E. coli) and intestinal enterococci. These contaminants primarily stem from agricultural runoff and sewage leaks. While the overall quality of bathing waters remained consistent with 2023, the findings underscore varying regional disparities across Europe.
Top performers: Cyprus and southern Europe lead the way
Cyprus topped the rankings in 2024, with 99.2 percent of its waters rated as "excellent." Other standout countries included Bulgaria (97.9 percent), Greece (97 percent), Austria (95.8 percent), and Croatia (95.2 percent). Denmark also performed well, securing sixth place with 92.9 percent of its waters deemed excellent. Germany (90.5 percent), Italy (90.2 percent), and Spain (87.6 percent) rounded out the EU's top performers.
Switzerland and France fall behind
Switzerland, which is not an EU member but included in the report, recorded a decline in water quality, with 83.1 percent of its bathing waters rated as excellent—a drop of over eight percentage points compared to 2023. France and Sweden also trailed the EU-wide average of 85 percent, with 74.2 percent and 73.5 percent of waters rated excellent, respectively. Additionally, both countries saw more than 3 percent of their waters classified as "poor."
Albania ranks lowest
Albania recorded the lowest percentage of excellent bathing waters, with just 16 percent meeting the highest standard in 2024—a sharp decline of over 25 percentage points from the previous year. The report attributed Albania’s drop to insufficient infrastructure and pollution control measures.
Rivers, lakes, and climate change challenges
The EEA highlighted that coastal beaches tend to have cleaner waters due to seawater's natural renewal capacity. Inland swimming spots, such as lakes and rivers, are more vulnerable to short-term pollution caused by heavy rains and runoff. The agency warned that climate change could exacerbate these challenges, as extreme weather events like floods and sewer overflows are expected to become more frequent, increasing health risks for bathers.
UK no longer in EU data
The UK, no longer part of the EU data collection following Brexit, reported that only 64.2 percent of England’s bathing waters were "excellent" in 2024, while 8.2 percent failed to meet minimum quality standards. British water companies have faced ongoing criticism for discharging untreated sewage into rivers and coastal areas, a factor contributing to the lower quality ratings.
Improving poor waters
Despite the challenges, 20 percent of the EU's bathing spots previously classified as "poor" in 2023 showed improvements by 2024. Sweden, for example, reduced its number of poor-rated sites by five, while France saw an increase of 16 poorly rated areas, driven by declining water quality in rivers.
Authorities are required to close bathing spots classified as "poor" the following year and implement measures to reduce pollution before reopening them, ensuring public safety and environmental protection.
