European Life Expectancy Rises, But Disparities Persist
By [Your Name], International Editor
Europeans are living longer, on average, but significant gaps remain between men and women, and across different regions, according to new data released by Eurostat. Overall life expectancy in the European Union reached 81.5 years in 2024, a slight increase from 81.4 the previous year and exceeding pre-pandemic levels of 81.3 in 2019.
The increase marks a recovery from 2021, when life expectancy dipped to 80.1 years amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the virus’s impact on public health. [1]
Women continue to outlive men across the continent, with a life expectancy of 84.1 years compared to 78.9 years for men – a difference of 5.2 years. However, the data shows men are seeing a slightly faster increase in life expectancy, gaining 0.2 years between 2023 and 2024, compared to women’s 0.1 year increase.
Regional Variations
Spain and Switzerland lead the way in longevity. Spain recorded a life expectancy of 84 years in 2024, while Switzerland, which is not part of the EU, saw an even higher average of 84.2 years. Other countries with above-average life expectancies include Sweden (83.8 years), Italy (83.7 years), Norway (83.2 years), France (83 years), Austria (82.1 years), and Denmark (82 years). Germany’s life expectancy is slightly below the EU average, at 81.2 years.
Within countries, regional disparities are also pronounced. The longest life expectancies are found in Madrid, Spain (85.7 years), and the Italian provinces of Trento and Bolzano, as well as the Stockholm region of Sweden (all at 85 years).
Conversely, the lowest life expectancies were recorded in Bulgarian regions (ranging from 73.9 to 75.4 years), France’s overseas department of Mayotte (74.5 years), and Hungary’s Észak-Magyarország region (75.1 years).
Gender Gaps Narrowing in Some Areas
While the gender gap in life expectancy remains significant, it is narrowing in certain countries. The smallest differences were observed in the Netherlands (2.8 years), Sweden (3.1 years), and Ireland (3.4 years). In Sweden, women live to an average of 85.3 years, while men reach 82.3 years. Similar narrow gaps exist in Denmark and Norway.
However, substantial differences persist in other parts of Europe. The largest gaps were recorded in Latvia (9.8 years), Lithuania (8.6 years), and Estonia (8.4 years). Spanish women have the highest life expectancy in Europe, at 86.5 years, compared to 81.4 years for Spanish men.
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