National Survey on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Sleep

-Automatic translation

The National Survey on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Sleep is part of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS), conducted by Statistics Iceland. It reflects Iceland's participation in the pan-European JA PreventNCD project. The primary aim of the project is to implement effective measures to prevent non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The main risk factors for non-communicable diseases are unhealthy diet, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity.

The Directorate of Health is conducting the study in collaboration with Statistics Iceland, the University of Akureyri, the University of Iceland and Reykjavík University. The research has been notified to the Data Protection Authority and has been granted permission from the National Bioethics Committee (VSN2505025)

Participation

Participation in the study consists of two parts.

Statistics Iceland invites people to participate in the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS). After completing the electronic questionnaire, the participant also receives an invitation to take part in the National Survey on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep.
If you agree to take part in the National Survey, you will receive an accelerometer to wear for seven days, along with a sleep diary.

Only those who receive an invitation from Statistics Iceland to participate in EHIS can participate in the National Survey.

Participants in the National Survey receive feedback on their physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep, as well as a gift certificate.

The study began in September 2025, and data collection was completed in June 2026. All data processing is expected to be completed no later than 1 September 2027.

Contact

Email: hreyfing@landlaeknir.is
Phone number: 660 8738

Responsible for the study

Dóra Guðrún Guðmundsdóttir
Director of the Public Health Department, Directorate of Health

Representatives from the Directorate of Health

Guðríður Hlíf Sigfúsdóttir
Project Manager for the National Survey PAS at the Directorate of Health

Hildur Guðný Ásgeirsdóttir
Specialist at the Public Health Department, Directorate of Health

Gígja Gunnarsdóttir
Specialist at the Public Health Department, Directorate of Health

Representative from the University of Akureyri

Nanna Ýr Arnardóttir
Assistant Professor in Physiology

Representative from the University of Iceland

Guðrún Sunna Gestsdóttir
Associate Professor in Health Promotion

Representative from Reykjavík University

Birna Valborgar Baldursdóttir
Assistant Professor in Psychology

The European Health Interview Survey is a harmonised European study conducted every four years by Statistics Iceland and will now take place in the second half of 2025. This study aims to assess health status, factors influencing health, the use of healthcare services, and potential barriers to accessing healthcare in each country.

Participants in the study, aged between 20 and 69, will also be invited to take part in a pan-European study led by the Directorate of Health, which aims to analyse physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep patterns of individuals within this age range.

The study's results will offer valuable insights into the health of the country's residents, enabling comparisons with previous years when the study was conducted and with findings from other European countries. The results will provide the government, academic community, media, and the general public with reliable information for discussion and decision-making on health issues in Iceland, contributing to the improved health and well-being of the nation.

Last reviewed: 19th October 2026

Service provider

Directorate of Health