Longevity Locations – The Best Countries For Living A Long And Healthy Life

It’s common knowledge that different countries have varying health outlooks for their citizens and residents. Life expectancies can differ greatly from country to country, as can healthy life expectancies, which determine how long you can expect to live in good health before the effects of old age begin to limit your quality of life.

These disparities can stem from factors like climate, diet, pollution, and genetics. Lifestyle also plays a significant role in extending lifespans and improving overall well-being. For instance, the Mediterranean diet, rich in fresh produce and healthy fats, is celebrated for its heart health benefits, while Japan’s cultural emphasis on mindfulness and a sense of purpose contributes to its high number of centenarians.

In this article, we explore what makes certain countries stand out for longevity and well-being, highlighting the best places to live a long and healthy life.

In this article

• What makes a country ideal for long and healthy living?
• Which countries have the longest life expectancy?
• Which countries struggle with low life expectancy?
• Which countries have the biggest 10-year decline in life expectancy?
• Countries with the lowest death rates from health conditions

What makes a country ideal for long and healthy living?

Longevity is not solely determined by genetics—it’s significantly shaped by the environment and lifestyle choices encouraged by your surroundings. Countries that promote long and healthy lives often share common traits: balanced diets, active lifestyles, strong healthcare systems, and supportive communities.

Access to healthcare is a particularly critical factor. Nations with universal healthcare systems, such as Norway and Sweden, often emphasize preventive care, enabling residents to maintain good health well into old age. Similarly, places with cutting-edge medical technology, like Singapore, provide a safety net for older residents and expats alike.

Cultural habits also influence longevity. For example, the Mediterranean diet, practiced in southern Europe, is rich in nutrients and antioxidants, while Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula highlights the importance of community and outdoor living in fostering a stress-free, healthy lifestyle. These cultural differences can have a profound impact on life expectancy and quality of life as people age.

If you’re considering moving abroad, adapting to local customs and making the most of the country’s health-promoting practices can enhance your well-being. Understanding these factors and securing appropriate international health insurance ensures you’re prepared for any health-related challenges that may arise.

The best countries for living a long and healthy life

Many locations may offer better health outcomes than those you are used to in your native country. To help highlight these healthy hotspots, the team at William Russell has compared life expectancies worldwide for people aged 60, showcasing where you could build a healthier life abroad in your golden years.

We’ve focused on life expectancy at age 60 rather than life expectancy at birth so that we only consider current health outcomes for older people, rather than trying to predict these outcomes in another 60 years.

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Countries with the longest life expectancy and longest healthy life expectancy

Japan has the longest life expectancy and healthy life expectancy at age 60

1/ Japan

Life expectancy at age 60: 26.6 years
Healthy life expectancy at age 60: 20.4 years

Japan has the longest life expectancy of any country in the world for people aged 60, at 26.6 years, meaning the average 60-year-old can expect to reach 86.6 years old.

Additionally, Japan has the highest healthy life expectancy for people aged 60, at 20.4 years, suggesting the average 60-year-old can reach 80.4 years of age in good health.

Japan has an established reputation as one of the world’s healthiest locations, consistently recording some of the highest life expectancies year after year. Many theories exist for why the Japanese live so long and experience such good health, with many attributing this success to the prominence of fish and vegetables in the local diet and a historic lack of unhealthy cooking methods and additives.

2/ South Korea

Life expectancy at age 60: 26.2 years
Healthy life expectancy at age 60: 19.6 years

South Korea recorded the second-highest life expectancy for 60-year-olds, at 26.2 years, with the average person aged 60 expected to reach 86.2 years.

South Korea also recorded the third-highest healthy life expectancy for 60-year-olds, at 19.6 years, meaning they could reach the age of 79.6 in good health before the effects of old age begin to limit their quality of life. 

Like Japan, South Korea is known for its healthy diet, which includes a large amount of fresh fruit and vegetables and fish and poultry. The country also has a subsidised healthcare system that is widely accessible to residents, who, on average, only need to cover 20% of their medical treatments. This system is funded by National Health Insurance contributions, which are 5% for employed individuals and variable for the self-employed, based on their income.

3/ Singapore

Life expectancy at age 60: 26.1 years
Healthy life expectancy at age 60: 20.3 years

Singapore has the third-highest life expectancy for people aged 60, at 26.1 years, meaning they can expect to live to the age of 86.1 years, on average. The country also has the second-best healthy life expectancy for 60-year-olds at 20.3. 

Singapore is a highly developed country in Southeast Asia that has seen a transformation of public health in recent decades due to proactive policymaking efforts. These include high taxes on cigarettes and alcohol, the promotion of active lifestyles and healthy diets, and a focus on providing accessible green spaces to its residents.

These results mean that all three of the best countries for both life expectancy and healthy life expectancy at 60 are highly developed nations in Asia.

This suggests that shared cultural elements in diet and lifestyle can greatly influence human longevity within a well-developed and prosperous country.

Top 10 countries with the longest life expectancy and longest healthy life expectancy

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Countries which struggle with low life expectancy and low healthy life expectancy

South Africa struggles with low life expectancy and low healthy life expectancy at age 60

1/ South Africa

Life expectancy at age 60: 15.3 years
Healthy life expectancy at age 60: 11.3 years

South Africa has the lowest life expectancy for 60-year-olds in our study, at just 15.3 years. This means they could live to just over 75, on average. Meanwhile, the healthy life expectancy for 60-year-olds is just 11.3 years, so their quality of life is expected to decline at 71.3 years old due to the effects of old age.

While South Africa has several highly developed and wealthy areas, the country is home to staggering inequality, causing disparate health outcomes between communities. While the era of apartheid came to an end in the early 1990s, successive governments have not yet managed to extend effective health policy to the wider population, with many people unable to afford the healthcare they need.

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2/ Indonesia

Life expectancy at age 60: 15.4 years
Healthy life expectancy at age 60: 11.9 years

Indonesia has the second-lowest life expectancy in our study for 60-year-olds at 15.4 years, with the average person aged 60 expected to reach 75.4 years. The healthy life expectancy at 60 is the third-lowest in our study at 11.9 years, meaning people’s health will start declining when they reach 76.9 years.

For decades, Indonesia has been struggling with very high levels of air pollution. More than 90% of the country’s population lives in cities where the pollution levels exceed the World Health Organization’s guidelines.

3/ India

Life expectancy at age 60: 15.6 years
Healthy life expectancy at age 60: 11.5 years

India has the third lowest life expectancy for 60-year-olds in our study at 15.6 years or 75.6 years in total. The country’s healthy life expectancy at 60 is the second-lowest at 11.5 years, which means the average Indian’s health will begin to deteriorate at 71.5 years old.

India is a vast country with great wealth inequality between the richest and poorest. Disparities in life expectancy not only exist between rich and poor but are reinforced by the country’s ancient caste system, with people in lower-ranked castes often living shorter lives. However, the caste system’s influence may decline as the world becomes more globally connected, and these considerations would be unlikely to impact an expat living in the country.

Top 10 countries with the lowest life expectancy and lowest healthy life expectancy

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Countries which saw the biggest increase in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy

South Korea saw the biggest increase in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy since 2011

1/ South Korea

Life expectancy increase: 2.1 years
Healthy life expectancy increase: 1.5 years

South Korea has seen the biggest increase in life expectancy for 60-year-olds over the past decade, increasing by 2.1 years between 2011 and 2021. Healthy life expectancy at 60 has also increased by the largest amount in South Korea, rising by 1.5 years over the same period.

This trajectory indicates that the South Korean culture and healthcare system continue to improve health outcomes for the country’s residents, making it an attractive proposition for prospective expats.

2/ Singapore

Life expectancy increase: 1.8 years
Healthy life expectancy increase: 1.3 years

Singapore saw the second-largest increase in life expectancy at 60 over the last decade, rising by 1.8 years, while healthy life expectancy for 60-year-olds rose by 1.3 years in the same timeframe.

This small, highly developed country has seen a huge increase in GDP per capita in the last few decades, which is rising in tandem with increased living standards and better quality healthcare, all of which translate into a longer life expectancy for residents.

3/ China

Life expectancy increase: 1.6 years
Healthy life expectancy increase: 1.0 years

China saw the third-largest increase in life expectancy from 2011 to 2021, with 60-year-olds predicted to live 1.6 years longer and enjoying 1.0 years more of good health.

Unlike South Korea and Singapore, China does not have one of the best life expectancies in our study, taking 36th place out of 75 countries with a life expectancy at 60 of 21.2 years. With this increase in longevity, China has shown that it is on course to catch up with other more developed countries where life expectancy has stagnated, or even fallen, such as the United Kingdom and the United States.

Qatar also saw an increase in life expectancy of 1.6 years, rising from 77.9 to 79.5. However, while this is an encouraging statistic for people planning to enjoy their later years in this Gulf state, Qatar could not quite match China’s increase in healthy life expectancy.

Top 10 countries that have seen the biggest increase in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy since 2011

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Countries with the biggest 10-year decline in both life expectancy and healthy life expectancy

Mexico saw the biggest 10-year decline in both life expectancy and healthy life expectancy at age 60

1/ Mexico

Life expectancy decrease: -3.3 years
Healthy life expectancy decrease: -2.4 years

Mexico saw the largest drop in life expectancy for 60-year-olds from 2011 to 2021, falling by 3.3 years, while the healthy life expectancy fell by 2.4 years. While Mexico is a popular holiday destination for many, this is usually limited to resort areas that don’t reflect everyday life for most Mexicans. 

Mexico is the 12th largest economy in the world, but despite this, life expectancy at 60 years of age is relatively low at just 18.5 years and is on a downward trajectory. Issues such as increased chronic conditions, very high violent crime and murder rates, and widespread poverty are all factors that could be contributing to the country’s falling lifespans.

2/ United Arab Emirates

Life expectancy decrease: -2.8 years
Healthy life expectancy decrease: -2.0 years

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recorded the second-largest fall in life expectancy for 60-year-olds, with a decrease of 2.8 years, while also recording the second-largest drop in healthy life expectancy of 2.0 years.

The UAE is the 13th richest country by GDP per capita, home to extremely wealthy cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. While the country has excellent healthcare, it is also home to massive wealth inequality, a high cost of living, and high rates of obesity, diabetes and drug abuse, all of which negatively impact life expectancy.

3/ India and Bulgaria

Life expectancy decrease: -2.5 years
Healthy life expectancy decrease: -1.9 years

India saw the third-largest decrease in life expectancy for 60-year-olds, with a drop of 2.5 years. The country’s booming population and overcrowded cities perpetuate wealth inequalities while the high levels of pollution and poverty negatively impact life expectancy.

Bulgaria recorded the third-largest decrease in healthy life expectancy among 60-year-olds of 1.9 years. Bulgaria is one of the poorest countries in Europe and struggles with many unhealthy lifestyle factors, such as high smoking rates, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and high alcohol consumption, all of which lead to lower healthy life expectancies.

Top 10 countries that have seen the biggest 10-year decline in both life expectancy and healthy life expectancy at age 60

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Which country has the lowest rate of cancer deaths?

Saudi Arabia has the lowest rate of cancer deaths

1/ Saudi Arabia

Cancer deaths per 100,000: 49.34

Saudi Arabia has the lowest rate of cancer deaths in our study, at 49.34 per 100,000 people. Ultra-processed foods are much less common in Saudi Arabia, and traditional cuisine provides a healthy and balanced diet with low levels of additives and preservatives.

Top 10 countries with the lowest rate of cancer deaths

Which country has the lowest death rate from Alzheimer’s and dementia?

Singapore has the lowest death rate from Alzheimer’s and dementia

1/ Singapore

Alzheimer’s and dementia deaths per 100,000: 0.43

Singapore has the lowest death rate from Alzheimer’s and dementia in our study, with 0.43 deaths per 100,000 people. While some of the causes of death for these conditions are genetic, many other factors can make you more susceptible, such as a history of cardiovascular disease, obesity, smoking tobacco, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. 

Top 10 countries with the lowest death rate from Alzheimer’s and dementia

Which country has the lowest rate of deaths from coronary heart disease?

South Korea has the lowest rate of deaths from coronary heart disease

1/ South Korea

Coronary heart disease deaths per 100,000: 27.78

South Korea recorded the lowest rate of coronary heart disease deaths, with 27.78 per 100,000 people. The diet of this East Asian country, with plenty of fruit, vegetables, and healthy protein sources such as fish and seafood, is likely a factor in explaining why this death rate is so low.

Top 10 countries with the lowest rate of deaths from coronary heart disease

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Which country has the lowest rate of diabetes deaths?

Singapore has the lowest rate of diabetes deaths

1/ Singapore

Diabetes deaths per 100,000: 1.28

Singapore recorded the lowest rate of diabetes deaths, with 1.28 per 100,000 people. Diabetes has a wide range of potential causes, from a family history of the condition to being overweight or taking certain medications, such as statins. Singapore has a relatively low obesity rate of 13.97%, which could be a reason why the rate of diabetes deaths is so low.

Which country has the lowest rate of deaths from Parkinson’s disease?

Moldova has the lowest rate of deaths from Parkinson’s disease

1/ Moldova

Parkinson’s disease deaths per 100,000: 0.11

Moldova has the lowest rate of Parkinson’s deaths in our study, with 0.11 per 100,000 people. While the exact causes of Parkinson’s are still being determined, some contributing factors include exposure to harmful chemicals, head trauma, and genetics. Moldova’s low rate of Parkinson’s deaths indicates that whatever the cause, the country is doing something right to prevent this condition from affecting more people.

Top 10 countries with the lowest rate of deaths from Parkinson’s disease

Which country has the lowest death rate from strokes?

The lowest death rate from strokes is seen in Switzerland

1/ Switzerland

Stroke deaths per 100,000: 14.92

Switzerland has the lowest rate of stroke deaths in our study, at 14.92 per 100,000 people. Many factors can increase your risk of stroke, such as high blood pressure, chronic stress, and lack of physical activity. The lack of strokes in Switzerland suggests that local residents lead healthy, active lifestyles without heavy use of alcohol and tobacco.

Top 10 countries with the lowest death rate from strokes

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Wherever you go, go with total peace of mind

At William Russell, we have over 30 years’ experience of helping expatriates finding best places in the world to move abroad and settle into their new lives overseas by providing world-class international health insurance. Plus, we produce lots of expert material to help you and your family adapt to life abroad.

Making the move to another country can be challenging. But no matter where you go, you can take one thing off your mind. William Russell offers international health insurance that covers you for everything from minor injuries to long hospital stays, and we can even offer medical evacuations to patients who require treatment in other countries where it’s not available locally.

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Methodology

We wanted to find out which countries benefit from the longest life expectancies, and which are seeing an increase or decrease in their population’s longevity. To do this, we first made a list of all countries in Europe, the OECD, the G20 and any country with a Human Development Index score of 0.8 or above. We removed any country where complete data was unavailable, as well as countries involved in ongoing international conflicts.

We used data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to show the average life expectancy for 60-year-olds in each country in 2021. This year was the most recent for which comprehensive data was available. We also used this source to find the average healthy life expectancy for 60-year-olds to show at what age people’s quality of life will begin to deteriorate as a result of the effects of old age.

We revealed the best and worst countries for life expectancy at 60 and healthy life expectancy at 60. We then collected the same data for 2011 and calculated the difference, revealing where these life expectancies are increasing and decreasing the most.

Fatality rates were then collected for several common old-age ailments to reveal which countries were the best performers for different health conditions. This data was collected from World Health Rankings for death rates from all cancers, Alzheimer’s and dementia, coronary heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and strokes.

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