Safety Index 2026: Czechs Feel Safer Than They Have in Years
The annual safety index reached its highest score since the survey began
Photo: Min An | Pexels
Serious health problems and financial losses are the biggest concerns for people in the Czech Republic. Around one in six adults rates their mental health as poor or very poor.
People in the Czech Republic feel slightly safer. The Safety Index compiled by insurer ČSOB Pojišťovna rose by 0.4 points from the previous year to 54.1 out of 100. This is the highest score since the survey began in 2023. The insurer compiles the index with polling institute STEM/MARK, based on a nationwide survey.
Health and finances are the biggest concerns
Respondents are least worried about losing their house or flat. The index reached 60.3 points in this category. It stood at 55 points for damage to or destruction of property. The lowest scores were for serious health problems, at 51.4 points, and significant financial losses, at 51.5 points. The potential loss of a regular income also worries many respondents.
The index score for health rose from 50.2 to 51.4 points. Some 59 per cent of respondents said they had some form of protection in the event of a serious health problem, up from 56 per cent the previous year. Around half said they had insurance cover in case a serious illness left them with lasting effects.
One in five young adults rates their mental health as poor or very poor
Every two years, participants are also asked how they rate their mental health. Some 16 per cent of adults rate their mental health as poor or very poor. Among 18- to 25-year-olds, the figure is one in five, around 11 percentage points lower than in 2024.
Photo: Anthony Tran | Unsplash
Respondents cite traumatic family events and serious health problems as the biggest strains on their mental health. Men rate their mental health slightly more positively. According to the survey, women are more likely to know where to find help and to take steps to look after their mental health. Around a third of women said they took such steps, compared with a quarter of men.
Mental health problems can be a reason to leave a job
For 45 per cent of respondents, poor mental health would be a reason to leave their job. Jiří Střelický, CEO of ČSOB Pojišťovna, pointed out that young people in particular would consider leaving their job if they experienced mental health problems. He said that alongside prevention and readily accessible support, it was also important to consider how a household would cope with a potential loss of income.
Three quarters of respondents rely on insurance
Three quarters of respondents rely on insurance in at least some situations, up from just under seven in ten the previous year. Respondents are most commonly insured against natural disasters (66 per cent). Some 62 per cent have cover for road accidents, and the same proportion have cover for burglary.
Respondents are considerably less likely to insure themselves against online theft of money (30 per cent), breaches of online privacy (27 per cent) or job loss (21 per cent). People on higher incomes insure against more risks and are more likely to consider their cover adequate.
