Spain to have the longest life expectancy by 2040
Could it be the fresh gazpacho or perfectly prepared paella? Whatever the reason, the Mediterranean country of Spain is set to be the place to be if you’re looking to live the longest.
People in Spain are predicted to have the longest life expectancy in the world by 2040.
The average life expectancy in Spain will be 85.8 years according to estimates from the Institute of Metrics and Health Evaluation.
The increase in longevity will completely change the needs of the population making sectors dedicated to the elderly more important.
The percentage of people living in Spain over the age of 65 is growing year on year. Jose Antonio Herce, chairman of the Board of Experts at BBVA Pension Institute and one of the leading specialists in longevity and pensions said: "We are gaining life expectancy at a rate of 2.5 years every decade."
The biggest threats to health and life expectancy across the world will be obesity, high blood pressure & blood sugar, tobacco use and drinking alcohol, according to forecasting reports from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
Japan has enjoyed the highest life expectancy on the planet for many years but is set to lose its status, according to a study by the Global Burden of Disease, published in the medical journal Lancet, with a predicted average lifespan just slightly behind Spain at 85.7 years.
The demographic change that is coming will likely cause a revolution in the business sector, with an increasing need to focus on older people. It is inevitable that as an ageing population continues to grow, the demand for products and services for the elderly will also rise significantly over the next few years.
Researchers say eating habits may provide clues to health levels enjoyed by Spain and other Mediterranean countries such as Italy, as a “Mediterranean diet, supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts, is noted to produce a lower incident rate of major heart disease than a reduced-fat diet,” according to an eating habit study led by the University of Navarra Medical School.
At the bottom of the ranking, Lesotho in southern Africa, is expected to have a life expectancy of only 57.3 by 2040, followed by the Central African Republic with 58.4, Zimbabwe on 61.3 and Somalia on 63.6. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation team warn that a resurgence of HIV/Aids could further decrease life expectancy in these countries.
The future of the world’s health is not preordained, but inequalities are set to remain large. Experts say that nations could make more health related progress by helping people tackle the major risks, especially smoking and poor diet.
