The United Kingdom ranks 33rd in a new study on the countries with the longest life expectancy, far behind top-ranked Hong Kong.
The top three countries for life expectancy are all in Asia – Hong Kong, with a life expectancy of 85.63 years, Japan at about a year less and South Korea at 84.43 years.
The study, conducted by the research team at Fountain Life, used data from Worldometer to analyse the countries worldwide with the longest life expectancy.
The European country with the highest life expectancy is Switzerland ranked 4th at just over 84 years. And Australia finishes out the top five, with a rate of 84.07 years.
The top 10 countries also include Italy (6), Singapore (7), Spain (8), Malta (9), and Norway and France tying for 10th place.
UK citizens have an average life expectancy of 81.45 years – but women live longer, with a life expectancy of 83.33 year compared to less than 80 years (79.54) for men.
According to global life expectancy data, the average lifespan for both sexes combined is 73.3 years, with females living an average of 76.0 years and males living an average of 70.7 years.
Life expectancy is expected to increase in the UK, and is projected to reach 82.84 years by 2030, 85.48 years by 2050, and 90.76 years by 2100.
British cities
Meanwhile, the British area with the longest overall life expectancy is Barnet in London at 84.17 years. Women in Barnet have a life expectancy of 86.03 years, while men have a life expectancy of 82.30 years.
Life expectancy in Barnet is projected to reach 83.83 by 2030, 84.32 by 2050, and 85.53 by 2100.
Sevenoaks ranks second, with a life expectancy of 84.04 years. The female life expectancy in the Sevenoaks is 85.42 years, and the male life expectancy is 82.65 years.
Wokingham ranks third with an overall life expectancy of 83.88 years. Wokingham has a female life expectancy of 85.6 and a male life expectancy of 82.15.
Greater London areas also perform well, with Kingston upon Thames (83.75 years) and Harrow (83.70 years) completing the top five.
Longer lives
Dr Helen Messier, chief medical and science officer of Fountain Life, said: “Our study of the United Kingdom reveals fascinating insights into the factors contributing to longer, healthier lives across different regions.
“The top-ranking cities showcase the potential benefits of its unique lifestyle, diet, and healthcare approach, which could offer valuable lessons for other areas across the country.
“It’s particularly noteworthy that many of the highest-performing cities are located in the South East and Greater London areas.
“This suggests that factors such as access to healthcare, economic opportunities, and quality of life in these regions may play a significant role in longevity.
“However, the presence of cities like Winchester and Tewkesbury in the top 10 demonstrates that exceptional life expectancy is achievable in various parts of the UK.”
