In this article, we will be taking a look at the 25 countries with highest life expectancy. To skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to see 10 Countries with Highest Life Expectancy.
In just the past two decades, 2000 — 2019, the average global life expectancy increased from 66.8 years to 73.4 years while healthy life expectancy has also improved by 8% over the same period.
This is the result of tens of billions of dollars spent on research and development by the top drug companies in the world. For example, GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) developed a vaccine which is the only vaccine approved against malaria by the World Health Organization showing a 77% efficiency rate. GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) also recently announced that the European Medicines Agency validated the marketing authorization application for its groundbreaking RSV vaccine to protect the population against respiratory syncytial virus, which is something Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is also engaged in. Speaking of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), pharmaceutical companies were absolutely integral in saving us from the disastrous effects of the pandemic as treatment and vaccines made by Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA), in addition to AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN), were available for negligible costs for the masses all over the world.
However, life expectancy is not equal in most countries. Many developing economies do not have the resources or technical capability to provide sufficient health resources to its population. Most developed economies in the world have free healthcare for everyone, with surprisingly, the U.S. being the only such country to not provide socialized healthcare which is especially surprising considering how some of the biggest pharma companies are headquartered there. This is why the U.S. doesn’t even make the list of the countries with the highest life expectancy, with an average life expectancy of around 71 years, around 10 years short of the country that ranks the lowest on our list.
On the other hand, you will find many European countries on our list, mainly because these governments and the European Union enact policies and regulations for the benefit of their citizens.
You won’t find any developing country in the list of countries with highest life expectancy because of the aforementioned lack of healthcare facilities, in addition to other issues such as lack of safety, high crime and high levels of pollution.
To determine our list, we headed over to the United Nations website and consulted their database. We then ranked each country based on its life expectancy in both 2020 and 2021. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at countries where people live long, healthy lives starting with number 25:
25. Cyprus
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2020 (in years): 81.4
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2021 (in years): 81.2
Cypriots are known for their consumption of the Mediterranean diet which includes fruits, vegetables, fish and olive oil. This has led to lower risk of serious diseases such as heart disease and stroke, among other cardiovascular illnesses.
24.Denmark
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2020 (in years): 81.5
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2021 (in years): 81.2
Denmark’s life expectancy has been on an upwards trajectory for the past three decades.
23. Austria
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2020 (in years): 81.5
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2021 (in years): 81.6
Austria’s top-notch healthcare system plays a key role in the country’s higher life expectancy score.
22. Netherlands
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2020 (in years): 81.6
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2021 (in years): 81.7
The Netherlands has one of the most expensive healthcare systems in Europe, but the cost is definitely worth the benefit, with the country providing one of the best ratios of physicians and doctors to the general population.
21. Luxembourg
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2020 (in years): 81.4
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2021 (in years): 82.6
Luxembourg is one of the richest nations in terms of GDP per capita, which has contributed to its population improving its quality of life.
20. Finland
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2020 (in years): 81.9
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2021 (in years): 82
It is expected that by 2070, Finland’s life expectancy will be 89 years.
19. Canada
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2020 (in years): 82
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2021 (in years): 82.7
In the 1950s, Canada and the U.S. had a similar life expectancy, but Canada’s public healthcare system has resulted in the country pulling much further ahead.
18. France
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2020 (in years): 82.2
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2021 (in years): 82.5
France has an excellent healthcare system which covers every person who is a resident.
17. Israel
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2020 (in years): 82.4
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2021 (in years): 82.3
Israel has a high life expectancy mainly thanks to the billions of dollars of aid provided by the United States.
16. Ireland
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2020 (in years): 82.5
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2021 (in years): 82
The life expectancy in Ireland has seen the life expectancy of men increasing by 2.5 years in men and 2 years in women in just the past 15 years.
15. New Zealand
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2020 (in years): 82.7
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2021 (in years): 82.5
In New Zealand, public health care system offers free hospital care to all permanent residents.
14. Spain
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2020 (in years): 82.3
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2021 (in years): 83
Like many countries in the list of countries with the highest life expectancy, the Mediterranean diet is one of the reasons why Spain has such a high life expectancy.
13. Italy
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2020 (in years): 82.4
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2021 (in years): 82.9
Italy is known for its amazing diet which includes consumption of nuts, olive oil and fish, which allows Italians to live long, healthy lives.
12. Sweden
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2020 (in years): 82.4
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2021 (in years): 83
Sweden committed to improving its environment decades ago and has stayed true to its commitment, which has drastically improved the quality of life of those living in the country, with more than 96% being satisfied by the quality of water available.
11. Iceland
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2020 (in years): 82.6
Total life expectancy of both sexes at birth for 2021 (in years): 82.7
Less than 400,000 people live in this country with arguably the most amazing landscapes in the world.
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Disclosure: None. 25 countries with the highest life expectancy is originally published at Insider Monkey.
