Living to a ripe, old age may not be for everyone in today’s dynamic, tiring world but the people from the 10 countries with longest life expectancy surely make an exception. We still live in a world where life expectancy varies greatly from country to country. Given that it is a complex estimate which is shaped up by various factors, you would expect to see some odd results in this list. However, it is quite clear – developing countries still struggle with high mortality and their counterparts on the other end of the spectrum struggle with overly abundant and increasingly older population.
The life expectancy of a country is usually calculated separately for men and women due to the statistic fact that men lead shorter lives than the opposite sex. This is usually attributed to the higher-risk jobs, more physical strain and more medical negligence of the male part of the population. It is estimated that worldwide, women live to over seventy-one years, while men on average live up to a bit over sixty-eight. This being said, the countries which fall to the bottom of the countries with longest life expectancy still have a high mortality rate at ages as low as forty-five. In certain parts of the world the population overall remains younger but due to the high child mortality rates.
If you have already seen our list of the 15 healthiest countries, you would wonder why the results are so different. It is quite easily explainable, though – there we accounted for life expectancy at birth and in this ultimate narrowing down, we account for data, based on different events . Even so, it should be mentioned that this list reflects each country’s’ political and economical power and how much of it they choose to harness in favor of their population’s health and general well-being, even in times of disaster and conflicts. With no further ado, let us take a look at our 10 countries with longest life expectancy.
10. Switzerland
WHO 2012 Combined Life Expectancy – 82.8
The land of lush landscapes, luxurious watches and bank accounts that many people dream of is actually not only one of the richest countries, but also one of the countries which takes amazing care of its population. Did you know that Switzerland has enough bomb shelters to accommodate all of its population? That should give you a hint of how well you could expect to be taken care of there.
9. Australia
WHO 2012 Combined Life Expectancy – 83
Joke goes around that everything in Australia, from the tiny plants to the vicious predators, is trying to kill you. Well, statistics show that they are not trying hard enough and also that Australia has one of the longest average life expectancies, making it number nine on our list. Pretty good for what once was a massive labor camp for convicts, right?
8. Sweden
WHO 2012 Combined Life Expectancy – 83
Sweden ranks eighth, showing us that the time of ruthless Vikings, throwing themselves in battle recklessly has long passed. Instead, Sweden is among the top five in low child mortality and among the countries with the safest drinking water. With all that in its arsenal, it is now also one of the ten countries with longest life expectancy.
7. Italy
WHO 2012 Combined Life Expectancy – 83.1
It is a safe bet that with gorgeous architecture and landscapes, fine food, wine and arts, Italy makes for a place where you would want to live on as much as you can. This also shows in its position as far as life expectancy is concerned, showing us that Italy’s glamour is not just a facade but instead has spread into the whole healthcare and services sector.
6. Iceland
WHO 2012 Combined Life Expectancy – 83.3
For a place like Iceland, you wouldn’t really expect longevity but that shows to be a very wrong assumption. Iceland’s capital Reykjavik is home to over two-thirds of the country’s population. With access to an abundance of hospitals and a universal healthcare system, funded by a considerable amount of the country’s budget, its position in our list is no surprise.
5. San Marino
WHO 2012 Combined Life Expectancy – 83.5
If you’ve never heard of San Marino, don’t be surprised. With an overall size of just above twenty-four square miles and a population to fill an average town, San Marino is not exactly a giant economical or cultural force in the world. However, with a highly stable economy, top-notch healthcare and practically nonexistent unemployment rates, San Marino makes the fifth spot on our list.
4. Hong Kong
WHO 2012 Combined Life Expectancy – 83.8
Although not a fully autonomous country, Hong Kong has been given enough freedom from China to reform and build up their own economy and healthcare while still receiving help from their mother state. Albeit not being completely stacked with hospitals, some of the facilities there are world-class. Since 2011, the women of Hong Kong are also considered the longest living demographic in the whole world.
3. Singapore
WHO 2012 Combined Life Expectancy – 84
Singapore has the 6th most efficient healthcare system in the world. It also doesn’t cost quite as much compared to other developed countries. The quality of life there is also among the best you can find southeast Asia, giving the working force to a better life and overall, making Singapore one of the most progressive Asian countries.
2. Andorra
WHO 2012 Combined Life Expectancy – 84.2
Andorra is another dwarf of a country on the list. Just like San Marino, though, it has one of the most stable and profitable economies in the world. Healthcare there is provided with no exception to every employed person and their family. Employment taxes and various fees that people there have to pay go for covering up to seventy-five percent of the cost of their healthcare.
1. Japan
WHO 2012 Combined Life Expectancy – 87
Japan being the leader in this list of the 10 countries with longest life expectancy should come as no surprise to you. After all they are the people who have more people over a hundred years old than the population of San Marino. Japan has the healthiest and some of the happiest people in the world. Their education, labor system and healthcare are some of the most excellent worldwide. However, all this is expected to backfire on Japan – making their population older by the day while keeping the islands overpopulated.
