Young Europeans and the rise of STIs

2025

Young Europeans and the rise of STIs

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are spreading faster across Europe, and young people are among those most affected. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported nearly 100,000 gonorrhoea cases in 2023 – a 31% rise in just one year – and syphilis cases have doubled since 2014. Experts link these alarming figures to changing sexual behaviours, particularly among younger generations.

Recent data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that condom use among 15-year-olds in Europe has dropped to its lowest level in a decade. Between 2014 and 2022, usage fell from 70% to 61% for boys and from 63% to 57% for girls, and one in three teenagers did not use any protection the last time they had sex. This decline reflects shifting attitudes towards sexual health and risk-taking.

The way young people date and form relationships is also evolving. Dating apps such as Tinder and Grindr have made meeting new partners easier than ever, but they also contribute to more casual encounters and lower condom use. Although preventive medicines like PrEP have reduced fears around HIV, they do not protect against other infections – a reminder that condoms remain essential for safer sex.

Health experts warn that prevention measures must keep up with these social and technological changes. Comprehensive sexuality education, access to reliable information, and open conversations about protection are key to helping young people make informed choices about their sexual health.

Data extracted from the European Correspondent’s article “How Europe's dating scene is driving an STI boom”. Check their video summary here.