The European city, where you are likely to live the longest has been named – and it’s popular among British expats. According to the latest data from Eurostat, Madrid in Spain has the average life expectancy of 85.4 years old.
This is in direct opposition to Bulgaria’s Severozapazen region, where the average life expectancy is just 69.7 years.
At the country level, Liechtenstein leads with the highest life expectancy in 2021, reaching 84.4 years. Switzerland follows closely with an average life expectancy at birth of 83.9 years, trailed by Spain at 83.3 years and Finland at 83.2 years.
Life expectancy in the European Union is emerging as a crucial policy focus amid challenges posed by an ageing population. According to 2021 data, the average life expectancy at birth for Europeans stands at 80.1 years.
However, applying this figure uniformly across the continent is deceptive, as recent statistics from Eurostat, the official database for Europe, reveal significant regional variations.
This week’s release of Eurostat data indicates a considerable divide in average life expectancy across different continental regions, ranging from 69 to 85 years.
Factors such as rising living standards, improved lifestyle, enhanced education, and increased access to quality healthcare contribute to higher life expectancies, while lower figures signal a lack of these elements.
Notably, women consistently show higher life expectancies across all regions with available data, with females in Europe expected to live 5.7 years longer than their male counterparts on average.
The trajectory of life expectancy in Europe followed a relatively steady upward trend until 2019 when it reached 81.3 years.
Subsequent years, particularly those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, have witnessed record declines in life expectancy numbers.
The 2021 figures indicate a further decrease from 2020, dropping to 80.4 years.
Experts anticipate that this decline is temporary and will be reversed due to decreasing infant mortality rates and improved access to factors that enhance living standards.
This positive trend is reflected in national statistics, where countries with high Human Development Index scores consistently occupy the top spots.
