Longest human life expectancy. What do scientists know about the secret of longevity? Average life expectancy, years

Hello dear readers! Yesterday at dinner, my friend told me the story of a woman (whose homeland is China), but at the same time, at fifty-something years old, she does not look her age at all. It was as if time stood still when she was 27-30 years old. This is surprising, especially for a woman, but I wonder what the average life expectancy is in the world. Which countries have the most centenarians and what is the secret of their eternal youth? You will learn about all this today...

Despite the fact that our planet has changed greatly over the centuries, people, from a physiological point of view, have remained the same. The same people lived centuries ago, but today we have several times more tools and information when compared with our ancestors who lived on the planet half a century ago. It is thanks to the changed laws of life and the large information flow that the average age indicators have increased significantly. Few of you probably remember that before it was several times smaller.

Human life expectancy in the USA

For some reason, we all treat America as something supernatural and unattainable, but recently I read an article that the standard of living there has decreased for the first time in 20 years.

The reason remains unclear; people die mainly from diseases, but the only good thing is that the number of deaths from cancer has remained unchanged.

Highest life expectancy by country in the world.

Portugal: growth dynamics

If we pay special attention to the healthcare system, Portugal will become the best example in this area. According to WHO statistics, the country's healthcare combines such aspects as special insurance for representatives of a certain profession, voluntary health insurance, and is included in the ranking of the world's best systems.


Thanks to a coherent tax system, the government is ready to provide its citizens with free health insurance. In addition, according to statistics, people began to live longer. Men and women live 10 years longer (80 years) when compared with other countries in the world. In Portugal, life expectancy is 9 years longer than in other countries.

Luxembourg

This country has very strict health standards, which is why Luxembourg is considered the most advanced country. Each person pays a tax on healthcare, which also comes from company income, thereby covering insurance for all residents of the country, regardless of age and social status. As a result, 98% of the population can visit a doctor for free. For those who can afford it, there is additional insurance, mostly purchased by non-profit organizations. Accordingly, the private sector practically does not exist. Just a few years ago, women lived to be 82 years old and men lived to be 77 years old. If you pay attention to the indicators, you can conclude that the system works perfectly.

South Korea (84 years old)

The country's advanced healthcare system is considered one of the top among all developed countries in the world.


A single-payer system operates here, in other words, all medical services are paid exclusively by one organization - the state, which significantly reduces administrative costs when compared with European and North American ones. As a result, residents will pay several times less for the fact that in the future they will be able to provide the most complex medical service, and this is done in the shortest possible time.

With such a healthcare system, it becomes clear why the country has the highest life expectancy. But health insurance does not include the collection of additional tests and procedures, which can be extremely important in the case of a chronic or complex disease such as oncology. Despite such positivism, many of my friends who have been to Korea argued that the majority of the population complain that due to the high speed, the quality of medical service suffers significantly, since doctors want to increase their salaries due to the fact that they serve a lot patients.

Australia (age 84)

In this country, women live 85 years, and men - 81 years. Considering that the country spends less than 10% of its profits on its health care system, compared with America's about 18%, it may seem like some kind of hoax. The budget has financed health care since 1984.

A special private system operates in parallel. It is income taxation that provides medical services to all residents, which includes consultation with a therapist and specialist, all necessary tests and surgical operations. Regarding aged care, according to research by the Australian Economist, the country received the highest scores for the availability of such services, their quality and public awareness.

France (84 years old)

This country is able to spend several times more money on medicine than other European countries, and this can have a beneficial effect on the elderly population. WHO previously rated the French healthcare system as the most advanced in the world. And today the key point here is considered to be the culture of paying more and receiving more in the healthcare system.

Thirteen years ago, France set an absolute record that reached 84 years for women and 77 years for men, which is considered the highest in the EU, reports the Agence France Presse comparison table. The National Demographic Institute, which conducted the research, associates this with progress in the field of medical development. Besides this, I like the fact that the country spends a lot of money on the treatment of cancer and heart diseases.

Italy

Why Italy is included in the ranking of countries with the longest duration is a question for many, since the government spends only 9% of its income on health care. Surely, the national cuisine, popular all over the world, and the joyful, optimistic atmosphere have a positive impact on the quality of life of the indigenous population. The national Italian health care system, once the best in the world after the French capital, provides affordable health care to all European residents.


Today Italians live long: men are 80 years old and women are 85.

Singapore (85 years old)

Singaporean men and women ranked 5th and 4th respectively in terms of longevity, despite the government spending just 3% of its income on healthcare. Here it is necessary to look at the unique social public policy. Initially, you can purchase insurance policies from the government, the prices for which are set at the legislative level. They also provide subsidies for low-income citizens, special pension programs, as well as mandatory savings programs, thereby making social savings accessible.

Switzerland (85 years old)

For three months after birth or obtaining Swiss citizenship, people are provided with health insurance. The system successfully combines public, private-public and completely private healthcare companies that operate within the framework of the National Health Insurance Law. All insurers are provided with basic medical services, regardless of age and health status.

Spain (85 years old)

When it comes to the life expectancy of Spaniards, many, just like in the case of Italy, cannot understand why people live so long, since the socio-economic factors of the two countries are similar. In this case, it is also necessary to mention the Mediterranean diet. Food is considered part of the culture of this country, where they probably don’t worry too much about nutritional standards. For example, in the West, people consume more calories. Here, national cuisine comes first and, surprisingly, there is no epidemic of obesity. Naturally, the universal health care system plays one of the leading roles, but the Spanish culture itself has a positive influence on the fact that people have begun to live longer.


Japan (87 years old),

men and women live equally long.

A Japanese woman lost her husband at the age of 83. Today, at the age of 116, she is the oldest woman in the world according to the Guinness Book. What is her secret? Eat, rest and relax.

In addition, there is also a man living in Japan who was born on February 5, 03 of the last century - the oldest representative of the stronger sex in the world. And this is not surprising: the largest percentage of centenarians who are over 110 years old have Japanese citizenship.

One can only guess from the tea leaves what it is about Japanese culture that gives them the opportunity to be so long-lived. On the one hand, the healthcare system is less individualized than in the West. There are no family doctors here, no emphasis on medical ethics and no ability to speak with patients.

On the other hand, they have a comprehensive system that uses world-class technology. But the main difference, despite everything, lies in culture. According to statistics, by following a diet, the Japanese are less likely to end up in hospitals with heart attacks.

A little history: how long did people live in the 19th century and in the 20th century?

You can imagine that at the beginning of the 19th century, the average life expectancy of many countries did not exceed 35 years. (Statistics: London 33 years, for the Belgian capital - 32 years, for the Dutch - 34 years, France 40 years, and in Russia generally 32).

Why were people dying so quickly? Most of them were infected with infectious diseases, diarrhea, pneumonia, bronchitis and influenza. If in those years the inhabitants of the planet had not died from these and some other similar diseases, then the average life expectancy of representatives of the stronger half would have been 70 years, and not 40.5. It was at the moment when cures for acute diseases were found that life expectancy increased several times. By the middle of the 20th century, it had grown to 65 years, which is good news.

Indeed, just think how scary it is to realize that by the age of 32 your life could end. Today, a lot has changed, the pace of development and speed have become completely different. People like to live, they are constantly developing, and many residents of American countries are just starting to have children closer to 40 years old. It seems to me that there is no secret to longevity, the only thing is to love and be loved, to enjoy life.

As for not drinking, not smoking, I don’t even know, among long-livers there are also people who smoked their entire adult lives, so this is everyone’s choice. It also doesn’t matter whether you are vegan, eat steak, eat only fruit, or give up dairy products. Statistics show that even those people who were completely unaware of the concept of healthy eating lived the longest. To maintain a beautiful body and the beautiful spirit within it, it is important to value yourself, treat yourself and others with care, live in comfortable conditions and not be nervous. What secrets of longevity do you know?

I recently found out about - about which I wrote a separate article

Text— Agent Q.

Did you know that life expectancy depends not only on our genes, physical activity and diet, but also on what country we live in? Thanks to the enormous achievements of modern medicine, people all over the world are living longer. Based on data from the World Bank, the UN, the Bloomberg news agency and reports from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a ranking of countries with the highest life expectancy was compiled. Want to know what countries these are? We present to your attention the top 10 countries where people live the longest.

10. Norway.

The average life expectancy in the country is 81.3 years. The official retirement age is 67 years. Currently, the group of people over 60 years old makes up 22 percent of the Norwegian population.


9. France.

The average life expectancy in France is 81.67 years. The official retirement age is 60 years. Pensioners over 60 years of age make up 24 percent of the country's population.


8. Israel.

The average Israeli citizen lives 81.76 years. Men retire at age 67, and women at age 62. 15 percent of Israel's population are over 60 years of age.


7. Sweden.

Swedes live on average 81.8 years. They retire at the age of 65. Already more than 25 percent of the population of this country is over 60 years old. Interestingly, only 4.1 percent of Swedish pensioners live with their adult children. This is one of the lowest rates in the world.


6. Australia.

81.85 years is the average life expectancy in Australia. The official retirement age for men is 65 years, for women - 64 years. Currently, 20 per cent of Australian society are over 60 years of age.


5. Italy.

The average Italian lives 82.09 years. The retirement age for men is 65 years, for women - 60 years. People over 60 years old make up 27 percent of the total Italian population.


4. Spain.

In Spain, the average lifespan is 82.33 years. Both men and women retire here at the age of 65. People over 60 make up 23 percent of the Spanish population.


3. Iceland.

The average life expectancy in the country is 82.36 years, and the retirement age is 67 years. Thanks to the good demographic situation, the population over 60 years of age is only 17 percent. FYI: Iceland has one of the highest birth rates in Europe.

2. Japan.

The average Japanese citizen lives 82.59 years. The Japanese retire at the age of 65. People over 60 make up 32 percent of the country's total population, the highest figure in the world.


Thanks to the development of modern medicine, people's life expectancy is constantly increasing. Comprehensive healthcare programs adopted in different countries, information about proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, innovative methods of physiotherapy and fundamentally new medications - all this does its job. In our review we will talk about where in the world people live the longest.

1. Luxembourg


81.33 years
Citizens of one of the smallest countries in Europe have one of the highest life expectancies in the world. Luxembourg is also notable for having the largest amount of alcohol sold in Europe per capita (although these figures are skewed by the large number of foreigners who come to the country to buy alcohol).

2. Republic of Korea


81.43 years
The Republic of Korea (South Korea) focuses on the health of its citizens even more than parts of the Western world. Even though Koreans live long lives, they face a serious and growing problem of pollution and urbanization. Almost half of all 51 million Koreans live in the Seoul metropolitan area. In addition, mental health is a growing concern in South Korea, with the country having the highest suicide rate in industrialized countries (26 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants).

3. New Zealand


81.56 years
New Zealand is a paradise for any adventure seeker. Thanks to its outstanding diversity of animals, as well as its unique climate, New Zealand is one of the most comfortable places to live on Earth. The calm and sedate way of life in this country has become famous throughout the world.

4. Canada


81.78 years
One of the most developed countries on the planet, Canada is also one of the most popular among immigrants. However, Canada is also the most educated country in the world - more than half of adults (51%) have at least a bachelor's degree. Despite the huge number of immigrants who come to the country each year (Canada receives 10% of the world's refugees each year), life expectancy numbers are not falling as much as might be expected.

5. France


81.84 years
The French are known as some of the healthiest people in the world. The combination of a healthy Mediterranean diet, one of the best healthcare systems in the world, and a good quality of life helps the French live to an average age of 81.84 years. It's also interesting that France has one of the largest discrepancies between men's and women's lifespans, with the average French woman living six years longer than the average French man.

6. Sweden


81.93 years
Across Scandinavia, the average life expectancy is over 80 years - one of the healthiest regions in the world. The record holder in Scandinavia is Sweden, which has very high water quality and low levels of air pollution. An important factor is also that the Swedes’ diet includes a lot of fish and berries, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

7. Israel


82.07 years
Some scientists believe Israel's genetically mixed population helps extend life expectancy in the country. Israelis also have much stronger ties to their families and communities than many other countries.

8. Australia


82.09 years
Despite Australia's many challenges - a steadily rising obesity rate, as well as the world's highest rate of skin cancer - Australians live to an average of 82.09 years. Some of the main reasons for this are the program to reduce the smoking rate in the country, as well as the high literacy of Australians.

9. Spain


82.27 years
The Spaniards live long lives largely due to their Mediterranean diet and favorable climate. Spain also has one of the lowest suicide rates in the world.

10. Iceland


82.3 years
Icelanders can thank their unique climate, efficient healthcare system and the abundance of fresh fish in their diet for their longevity. At the same time, Icelanders live in one of the least polluted countries on Earth. Iceland makes full use of geothermal energy, and local residents receive hot water directly from the island's hot springs.

11. Singapore


82.64 years
Most residents of Singapore (which is the only island city-state in the world) live over 82 years. This is largely due to the government, which has tightly regulated the number of cars on the roads and has introduced a comprehensive healthcare system that focuses on the prevention of chronic diseases.

12. Switzerland


82.66 years
In the alpine paradise of Switzerland, high incomes, clean air and happy people. One of the main reasons why the Swiss live so long is that Switzerland is a leader in investing in healthcare, talent development and education for its citizens. Combined with low crime rates and strong social cohesion, this produces amazing results.

13. Italy


82.84 years
The high ranking of Italians on the list is a mystery, as the country has poor healthcare and lower incomes than other countries on the list. However, Italy has the third highest life expectancy in the world. Besides the previously mentioned Mediterranean diet and wonderful temperate climate, Italy has long had a more close-knit community than most other countries.

14. Japan

83.3 years
Some researchers call the Japanese the healthiest people on the planet. The country is also famous for the number of centenarians (people over 100 years old) per capita: 34.85 per 100,000. The largest number of centenarians live on the island of Okinawa, where they eat a lot of algae.

15. Hong Kong


83.73 years
On the one hand, it is strange that Hong Kong residents are in first place, since there is very little living space for one person, as well as constant stress at work. But the Cantonese diet, tai chi exercise (which almost everyone does), and brain-stimulating mahjong have led to an average lifespan of 84 years in Hong Kong.

It was thanks to the achievements of medicine that and appeared.

Place of residence has a serious impact on a person's life expectancy. After all, by and large, our health depends mainly on what we eat, the quality of healthcare and the environment. We invite you to find out which 10 places on Earth have the highest life expectancy.

Okinawa, Japan

The life expectancy of the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun is one of the highest on Earth. Thus, the chances of a Japanese person living to be 100 years old are much higher than those of people from other countries of the world. Okinawa residents have the best health in this country. This is largely due to their diet. Okinawans have a low risk of developing atherosclerosis and cancer of the stomach, breast and prostate glands. On average, locals eat fish three times a week. Their diet is also rich in whole grains and soy products, and vegetables. They eat more tofu and seaweed than people in other parts of the world. In addition, their menu often includes squid and octopus, which contain taurine, which helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

Sardinia, Italy

This picturesque island has a rich tradition of healthy and active lifestyles. Sardinians boast a healthy diet, plenty of exercise and a strong sense of community. That is why most of the longest-living men in the world are born here.

Danderyd, Sweden

When it comes to life expectancy, Sweden is second only to Japan and Switzerland. However, this country also has a record-breaking place. The municipality of Danderyd, located north of Stockholm, in turn, is the leader in Sweden in terms of life expectancy.

Ikaria, Greece

Residents of this Mediterranean island live on average 8 years longer than Americans. All this is thanks to healthy food, fresh air and friendly, sociable people. Also, residents of Ikaria are less likely to get cancer. In addition, no cases of dementia have been reported on the island.

Loma Linda, California

Members of this community live on average 10 years longer than other US citizens. They treat their bodies as temples and hardly eat meat or fish, do not smoke or drink alcohol, and also devote a lot of time to physical activity.

Nicoya, Costa Rica

This Caribbean island village is a low stress destination with excellent calcium and magnesium rich water.

Hunza Valley, Pakistan

The people of this northern Pakistani village live longer than most people elsewhere thanks to high physical activity, a low-calorie diet and regular consumption of apricot juice.

Switzerland

The average life expectancy in this country is 82 years. This became possible thanks to the excellent healthcare system, excellent environmental conditions and the active lifestyle of the population. In addition, the inhabitants of Switzerland are considered one of the happiest people on Earth.

Iceland

The population of this northern island country has one of the highest life expectancies in the world thanks to a healthy diet rich in seafood, a favorable environment and regular exercise.

Singapore

The small country boasts one of the best healthcare systems in the world. The state also actively promotes the principles of healthy eating and an active lifestyle. This allowed its residents to be included in the ranking of nations with the highest life expectancy.


Life expectancy in different countries of the world is an indicator of the development of a country, its well-being and healthcare system.

Typically, states with high life expectancy are characterized by a well-established social security and insurance system, because, first of all, older people require financial assistance from the state, and developed countries are able to provide the older generation with the necessary pension payments and subsidies.

Average life expectancy is also influenced by people’s lifestyle, the quality of their diet and commitment to a healthy lifestyle.

  1. The lead in the ranking belongs to Hong Kong. Despite the fact that this one occupies a small area and many people are experiencing a shortage of square meters. This country was able to increase life expectancy to 83.73 years. Many experts note that the country was able to achieve such results thanks to the Cantonese diet, which every second resident of Hong Kong adheres to. Also, the population of this administrative region is actively involved in tai chi (a set of exercises for the development of physical health).
  2. Takes second place. This state has the most centenarians. According to statistics, per 100,000 people there are 35 people over 100 years old. This is a very good indicator. Most of the centenarians live on the island of Okinawa, and the secret of their life expectancy lies in the daily consumption of seaweed, which contains all the micro and macroelements necessary for the body.

The average life expectancy in Japan is 83.3 years. This country is also popular because its residents very rarely get sick and traditional medicine is more often used for treatment than pharmacological drugs.

  1. . For many experts, the longevity of Italians still remains a mystery. Even though the country is a member of the European Union, wages and pensions are not very good compared to other European countries. Also, Italy cannot boast of a highly developed medical system, but this does not prevent its citizens from living to an average of 82.84 years.
  2. . The republic's citizens live on average 82.66 years. Their quality of life is influenced by the temperate climate, clean air, and the calm and peaceful atmosphere in the republic. The healthcare sector also plays an important role, where Switzerland invests millions of euros annually.
  3. . This small island nation has a life expectancy of 82.64 years. Residents of Singapore are protected to the maximum from the destructive influence of cars. The country very strictly regulates the number of cars to prevent environmental pollution. The government has also created an excellent healthcare system, which is aimed primarily at preventing the occurrence of chronic diseases in people, and not at treating them.
  4. . Icelandic residents live an average of 82.3 years. This life expectancy is influenced by a large amount of fish in the diet containing omega. This microelement activates the body’s protective properties, so Icelanders are less likely to be exposed to various diseases. Iceland also boasts a unique temperate climate. The use of geothermal energy plays an important role.


  5. Kingdom. In this state, men and women adhere to the Mediterranean diet, which includes a large amount of seafood. On average, Spaniards live 82.27 years. This kingdom is distinguished not only by good climatic conditions, but also by the excellent mental health of its citizens. According to statistics, Spain has the lowest suicide rate in the world.
  6. differs in the life expectancy of its citizens at 82.09 years. This country has high obesity rates. Australia also has the highest percentage of people suffering from skin cancer in the world. This situation occurs due to the hot climate. But despite this, the Commonwealth of Australia recently introduced a program to reduce smoking among citizens, which affected their life expectancy.
  7. . It is believed that the mixed population of God's Earth affects the life expectancy of Jews. Whether this is true or not is unknown, but in Israel people on average live to 82.07 years.
  8. . One of the most developed countries in the European Union with a life expectancy of 81.93 years. The state has devoted a lot of resources to clean up the environment. Swedes also eat a lot of berries and seafood, which prevent heart disease.
  9. . This European state boasts a life expectancy of 81.84 years. The main secret of the longevity of the French lies in proper nutrition and good medical care.
  10. . This state is considered to be a country of immigrants. According to statistics, more than 30% of Canada's population came here for permanent residence from different parts of the world. But this did not affect the average life expectancy (81.78 years). Canada is characterized by one of the most developed healthcare systems; this country has one of the best and highest quality medical care.
  11. . The republic is known for its climate and outstanding nature. On average, New Zealanders live to 81.56 years.
  12. . This country has a very high level of urbanization (relocation of the rural population to cities), but even this does not prevent Korea from maintaining one of the leading positions in terms of life expectancy, which is 81.43 years. Many experts note that Koreans live so long thanks to their incredible ability to work, which constantly keeps the human body in good shape.
  13. . Citizens of this state live to an average of 81.33 years.

Countries with low life expectancy

  1. The first place is occupied by the Central African Republic with an indicator of 45 years. The country has a low level of medicine, and most of the state's residents are exposed to diseases such as HIV infection and malaria.
  2. Lesotho. The African country is known in the world as the state with the highest percentage of HIV-infected people. According to statistics, half of the female population under 40 years of age is infected with this virus. Because of this situation, mortality increases, so people usually do not cross the threshold of 46 years.
  3. Sierra Leone (46 years old). This republic survived a civil war that took the lives of 50 thousand people.
  4. Zimbabwe. The indicator is 46 years. This republic has a high mortality rate due to ulcers and HIV infection.
  5. Zambia. One of the poorest republics in Africa. Today in Zambia, residents do not even live to be 50 years old, and the average life expectancy is 46 years.
  6. Afghanistan. Life expectancy in this state was affected by the war, which maimed more than 80 thousand Afghan citizens. Today this state is characterized by a life expectancy of 47 years.
  7. Swaziland is a country with 26% of the population infected with HIV. It is from this disease that most of the inhabitants of Swaziland die. The second deadly disease that has eradicated the population of Swaziland is tuberculosis, which claims the lives of 18% of the population every year. In this African republic, people usually live up to 47 years.
  8. Congo is the country with the second highest infant mortality rate in the world. In Congo, people typically live to be 47 years old.
  9. Mozambique. This African republic experienced a civil war that undermined the political system and destroyed the medical system. In Mozambique, people live to 48 years of age due to lack of health care.
  10. Burundi completes the ranking of countries with an indicator of 48 years. Over the past two decades, the republic has experienced a civil war that has left Burundi in ruins.
    Top 5 oldest inhabitants of the world on video.

Statistics for the Russian Federation

Life expectancy in Russia is growing every year. This is evidenced by data provided by Rosstat.

Table of growth dynamics of life expectancy in Russia by year

YearGeneral indicatorIndicator for menIndicator for women
1995 64.5 58.1 71.5
2000 65.5 59 72.2
2002 64.9 58.6 71.9
2005 65.3 58.9 72.4
2007 67.6 61.4 74
2008 67.9 61.9 74.2
2009 68.7 62.8 74.7
2010 68.9 63 74.8
2011 69.8 64 75.6
2012 70.2 64.5 75.8
2013 70.8 65.1 76.3
2014 70.9 65.3 76.5
2015 71.4 65.9 76.7
2016 71.9 66.5 77

If we analyze the indicators of the Russian Federation during the existence of the USSR, we can conclude that the average life expectancy in the first 5 years after the collapse of the union decreased by 4.6 years.

Based on statistics, the highest life expectancy in Russia is observed in the Republic of Ingushetia (80 years). Second place is occupied by Moscow with an indicator of 76.77 years, and third place belongs to the Republic of Dagestan (76.40 years).



Did you like the article? Share with your friends!