Environmental noise in Europe 2025 / EEA report 05/2025

ID 24164 | 25.06.2025 / Report attached

EEA report 05/2025 - 24 Jun 2025

The Environmental noise in Europe - 2025 report presents the latest data and analysis on noise pollution and its effects on human health and the environment across Europe.

The report draws on information submitted by European Union (EU) Member States and other EEA countries under the 2022 reporting round of the Environmental Noise Directive (END).

Millions of people across Europe are exposed to harmful noise levels from transport sources, making noise one of the leading environmental health risks in Europe. This Environmental noise in Europe - 2025 report presents a comprehensive analysis of transport-related noise pollution and its associated health impacts, also identifying available solutions to reduce harmful exposure to noise.

According to the report, at least one in five Europeans lives in areas where noise exposure exceeds healthy limits, posing serious risks to health. Road traffic is identified as the dominant source of environmental noise, especially in densely‑populated urban areas, where the highest numbers of people are affected.

In 2021 alone, prolonged exposure to transport noise in Europe was linked to an estimated 66,000 premature deaths, 50,000 new cases of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and 22,000 new cases of type 2 diabetes. In total over 1.3 million healthy life years were lost in Europe due to noise pollution.

Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the effects of noise. Based on new research, it is estimated that in 2021 noise exposure from transport sources contributed to over 560,000 cases of reading comprehension impairment, 63,000 behavioural problems and 272,000 cases of children being overweight.

Beyond human health, high levels of environmental noise can also harm biodiversity, highlighting the need for additional actions to provide better protection to ecosystems. The report shows that at least 29% of the area protected under Natura 2000 in Europe experience noise levels that could be harmful to terrestrial wildlife, while underwater noise also presents a significant risk to marine habitats.

Now in its third edition, this current Environmental noise in Europe - 2025 report draws on data collected under the 2022 reporting round of the Environmental Noise Directive (END), provided by European Union (EU) Member States (MSs) and other European Environment Agency (EEA) countries. For the first time, the 2025 edition assesses additional exposure and health effects against the updated, more stringent recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO). Produced in collaboration with the EEA′s European Topic Centre on Human Health and the Environment (ETC HE), the report focuses on six key areas:

- the number of people exposed to noise levels harmful to health;
- the health impacts and burden of disease (BoD) associated with environmental noise;
- progress towards the Zero pollution target on noise for 2030;
- impacts of noise on biodiversity and protected natural areas;
- accessibility to green and quiet areas in European cities;
- challenges and potential solutions to reduce noise impacts.

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Fonte: EEA

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