OBJECTIVES: To describe general population self-reported EQ-5D-VAS (VAS) and to explore its univariate relationships with sociodemographic (SDC) and health characteristics. METHODS: In 2005, the first "Risk Factors National Survey" was undertaken in Argentina, including 41,392 adults randomly selected from all Argentine provinces. Data were obtained on SDC, risk factors, and health status (EQ-5D and the general health question of SF-36). Mean and CI95% or median (IQR) are reported. All significant differences had p values <0.01. RESULTS: VAS had a mean of 75.35 (74.94 -75.75) and a median of 80 (70-90). General population mean and median social TTO based weights were 0.902 (0.898-0.905) and 1 (0.88-1). The range of reported limitations in each of the EQ-5D domains ranged from 2.9% in self-care to 30.9% in pain/discomfort. 44.9% had at least some limitation in one of the EQ-5D states, and 19.9% had a self-reported fair or poor health. VAS had a correlation of 0,49 with TTO based social weights. General Health was strongly correlated to VAS: those with excellent health had a mean of 91.76, while those with poor health had a mean of 39.43. Subjects that reported having a health problem in the last month had significantly less VAS than those who did not: 70.66 vs. 80.39. VAS was significantly related to cardiovascular risks factors (high blood pressure, high-cholesterol, overweight, high glycemia, low physical activity) except smoking. VAS was significantly lower in females, in the elderly, in subjects with less education, lower household income, and unemployed. CONCLUSIONS: VAS showed expected relations with SDC variables, with General Health, and in general, it showed to behave as expected with the presence of cardiovascular risk factors with the exception of smoking. This is one of the few general population surveys in Latin America that incorporated the EQ-5D tool to describe population health status.