17 Countries Where Life Expectancy is Longest
People around the world are living longer than ever before, but some places have really figured out the secret sauce for longevity. We’re talking about countries where hitting 85 is pretty normal and where centenarians aren’t exactly rare.
These places combine great healthcare, healthy lifestyles, and sometimes just lucky geography to help their citizens stick around way longer than the global average of 73 years. Here’s a list of 17 countries where life expectancy is longest and where people have mastered the art of living well into their golden years.
Monaco
As of 2024, Monaco has the highest life expectancy at 86.50 years, making this tiny Mediterranean city-state the ultimate place to grow old gracefully. Meanwhile, the environment encourages an active lifestyle, with opportunities for walking, water sports, and hiking just across the border in France.
All of these factors combine to create Monaco’s exceptionally high standard of living – and the highest life expectancy in the world. When you’ve got Mediterranean sunshine, world-class healthcare, and enough money to buy your way out of most health problems, living to 86 becomes pretty achievable.
San Marino
San Marino (85.82 years) comes in second, and this tiny mountain republic knows how to take care of its people. The independent republic of San Marino is home to one of the world’s longest-living populations.
This longevity is supported by a universal healthcare system, strong education rates, and a government that places a strong emphasis on disease prevention. Being nestled in the Italian hills with clean air and a stress-free lifestyle doesn’t hurt either.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MS
Hong Kong
Hong Kong (85.6 years) might seem like an odd choice given its dense population and urban environment, but this place has cracked the longevity code. Hong Kong ranks surprisingly high in global life expectancy.
Its high level of economic development plays a major role, allowing residents to enjoy high-quality healthcare and education systems, along with widespread access to quality food and clean water. Plus, all that walking up and down Hong Kong’s hills keeps people pretty fit.
Japan
Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, marking a total of four countries from the continent in the top 10, with Japan consistently ranking around 84-85 years for life expectancy. No list of countries with the highest life expectancy would be complete without Japan.
Thanks to significant wealth and government investment, Japan boasts one of the best healthcare systems in the world and an education system that instills health awareness from an early age. The Japanese diet, active lifestyle, and social connections all contribute to people living well into their 80s and beyond.
South Korea
South Korea is at 3rd, 4th and 5th position in various rankings, with life expectancy around 84-85 years. South Korea has seen a notable increase in life expectancy in recent decades, largely due to its rapid economic growth since the 1980s.
This progress has raised living standards and supported a strong universal healthcare system that embraces technological innovation and prioritizes disease prevention. Korean culture’s emphasis on family care for elders also plays a big role.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MS
Liechtenstein
Next on the list is Liechtenstein with an average life expectancy of 84.77 years, making this Alpine principality a serious contender for longevity. Most of the countries with the longest life expectancies in 2022 were wealthy nations in Asia and Europe, with Liechtenstein and Japan topping the list at around 84 years.
When you’re one of the world’s richest countries per capita with pristine mountain air, excellent healthcare becomes pretty affordable.
Switzerland
Switzerland with 84.38 years continues its tradition of precision in everything, including keeping people alive longer. Like many countries with the highest life expectancy, Switzerland benefits from numerous life-extending factors.
It boasts one of the best healthcare systems in the world, which is well-funded, universal, and focused on prevention and early diagnosis. Swiss people also love their outdoor activities, which helps when you’ve got the Alps as your backyard gym.
Singapore
Singapore with 84.27 years proves that small island nations can pack a big punch when it comes to longevity. Despite being incredibly urban and dense, Singapore has created a system where people live long, healthy lives.
The city-state’s excellent healthcare system, clean environment, and government focus on public health have created one of the world’s most livable places.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MS
Italy
Italy with 84.20 years shows that the Mediterranean lifestyle really works for longevity. In 15 countries, life expectancy exceeded the EU average, with the highest life expectancy recorded for Spain (84.0 years), Italy (83.8 years) and Malta (83.6 years).
Between the olive oil, the wine in moderation, the family-centered culture, and all that walking around historic city centers, Italians have figured out how to age gracefully.
Australia
Australia is the only country outside of Europe and Asia to crack the top 10, with a life expectancy of 84.1 years. The sun, sea, and sand play a key role in keeping residents active and healthy in the land down under.
Beyond a mild climate that encourages an active lifestyle, Australia’s strong economy supports a high standard of living, including a universal healthcare system focused on vaccination and disease prevention. When your biggest health worry is remembering sunscreen, you’re doing pretty well.
Spain
Spain (84.0 years) tops the European Union rankings and shows that siestas might actually be good for you. The Spanish lifestyle combines Mediterranean diet benefits with a relaxed approach to life that seems to work wonders for longevity.
Spanish people also walk everywhere, eat late dinners with family, and generally know how to enjoy life without stressing too much about it.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MS
Iceland
This Nordic island nation consistently ranks high in life expectancy studies, usually around 83-84 years. Those increases are less likely to occur to such a degree in the more developed regions of Europe where Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Iceland and Austria all rank in the top 20 countries with the highest life expectancy.
Iceland’s combination of clean air, active lifestyle, strong social safety net, and excellent healthcare creates an environment where people thrive well into their 80s.
France
France regularly appears in top life expectancy rankings, with France (5.6 years) showing one of the largest gender gaps in longevity. This places the U.S. behind many European countries, including Monaco, Italy, Spain, France, Norway, and Portugal in life expectancy rankings.
The French paradox of wine, cheese, and long life continues to baffle scientists, but somehow the combination of Mediterranean-style eating and excellent healthcare keeps working.
Norway
Norway consistently ranks among the top countries for life expectancy, typically around 82-83 years. Norway’s comprehensive social safety net, excellent healthcare system, and active outdoor culture contribute to its citizens living longer, healthier lives.
When your government covers healthcare and you spend your weekends skiing or hiking, longevity becomes a natural byproduct.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MS
Malta
Malta (83.6 years) proves that small Mediterranean islands have figured out something special about longevity. High-income nations such as Andorra, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Malta, and the Vatican are renowned for their low crime rates and high quality of life.
Malta’s combination of Mediterranean climate, relaxed lifestyle, and modern healthcare system creates an ideal environment for healthy aging.
Andorra
This tiny Pyrenees principality consistently ranks in the top 15-20 countries for life expectancy. Advanced healthcare (with high immunization rates) and a healthy Mediterranean diet are just two reasons why Andorra has one of the highest life expectancies in the world.
The country also benefits from low pollution, access to safe water and sanitation, strong economic development, and a focus on social and active living. When you’re tucked between France and Spain with mountain air and no stress, living long becomes pretty easy.
Luxembourg
This wealthy European nation regularly appears in top life expectancy rankings, typically around 82-83 years. Luxembourg’s combination of wealth, excellent healthcare, low crime rates, and high quality of life creates an environment where people naturally live longer.
Luxembourg and Malta (all with a rise of +0.7 years) shows the country’s continued improvement in life expectancy metrics.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MS
The Longevity Recipe That Actually Works
These 17 countries didn’t accidentally stumble into longer life expectancy – they’ve created environments where living long and healthy lives becomes the norm rather than the exception. Many of the countries where people live the longest also have high per-capita healthcare spending as they improve access and quality of their healthcare systems.
Whether it’s Switzerland’s precision healthcare, Japan’s healthy cultural habits, or Australia’s outdoor lifestyle, these places prove that longevity isn’t just about luck. According to the United Nations Population Division, the global average for both genders rose from 46.5 years in 1950 to 71.7 years in 2022, and is expected to climb further to 77.3 years by 2050. The real lesson from these longevity champions is that combining good healthcare, healthy lifestyles, strong social connections, and a bit of geographic luck can add years to your life and life to your years.
More from Go2Tutors!
- 16 Historical Figures Who Were Nothing Like You Think
- 12 Things Sold in the 80s That Are Now Illegal
- 15 VHS Tapes That Could Be Worth Thousands
- 17 Historical “What Ifs” That Would Have Changed Everything
- 18 TV Shows That Vanished Without a Finale
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MS
