Longevity: Blue Zones, statistics & life expectancy in comparison

There are not only large differences in life expectancy globally - the data on the topic also differs regionally Longevity in Germany. We have collected and compared various statistics on life span.

Longevity in Germany: Overview and International Comparison

The average age in Germany is 81.2 years. This puts us among the taillights in Western Europe - and this despite the fact that we spend the most money on healthThis was the conclusion reached by study the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Thanks to our well-developed healthcare system actually best chances of an above-average life and health span. Instead, the gap to other countries has been growing steadily over the past 20 years, as the study "Mortality Development in Germany in an International Context" (2024) of the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) and the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research.

While in 2000 we were 0.73 years behind for men and 0.74 years behind for women, In 2019 it was already 1.43 and 1.34 years respectivelyThe difference is not enormous, but the trend continues to be increasing. The increased mortality rate among middle-aged and old people is mainly due to non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases or undetected high blood pressure.

On the list of countries by average life expectancy, we are only in 38th place. Ahead of us are, for example, Monaco (the country with the highest life expectancy), Japan in 4th place, Sweden in 18th place, Austria in 25th place and Finland in 34th place. (As of 2023)

Development of Longevity in Germany

Life expectancy in Germany has increased significantly in recent decades - the However, the increase has slowed recently:

Long-term development

• Since 1871, life expectancy has more than doubled.

• From 1950 to 2019, life expectancy increased continuously every year.

• Over the last 25 years (from the early 1990s to 2015/2017), life expectancy increased by 4.2 years to 83.2 years for women and by 5.9 years to 78.4 years for men.

Recent developments

• Until 2009/2011, the average annual increase was about 0.3 years for both sexes.

• From 2009/2011 to 2017/2019, the annual increase to an average of 0.1 years.

• The COVID-19 pandemic led to a decline in life expectancy for the first time in 2020.

Current figures

• By 2021/23, life expectancy increased to 77.4 years for newborn boys and 83.6 years for newborn girls.

• After the pandemic-related decline, a slight increase of 0.1 years was recorded for both sexes in 2021/2023.

forecasts

• By 2070, average life expectancy is projected to rise to 88.2 years for women and 84.6 years for men.

Regional differences

Baden-Württemberg leads the list of federal states with the highest life expectancy at:

• Women: 84.11 years

• Men: 79.72 years

In contrast, Saxony-Anhalt the lowest Life expectancy:

• Women: 82.28 years

• Men: 75.78 years

north-south divide

There is a clear north-south divide in life expectancy:

• Southern German states such as Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria have the highest life expectancy.

• Northern German states such as Bremen and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania tend to have a lower life expectancy.

East-West differences

Historically, there were and are significant differences between East and West Germany:

• After reunification, life expectancy in East Germany increased significantly.

• Today, girls in East and West Germany have a similar life expectancy of about 83 years.

• There is still a difference among boys: 76.8 years in East Germany compared to 78.5 years in West Germany.

Why has life expectancy increased almost constantly in recent decades?

In recent decades, several factors have contributed to the increase in life expectancy in Germany:

Medical progress

• Improved treatment and prevention of age-related diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases

• containment of infectious diseases

• Advances in medical technology and disease prevention

Healthier lifestyle

• trend towards conscious and balanced nutrition

• increase in physical activity

• decline in tobacco and alcohol consumption

Improved living conditions

• Increased material prosperity

• Better working conditions

• improving living conditions and hygiene

Social and political factors

• expansion of the social security system and long-term care insurance

• Health policy measures to curb tobacco and alcohol consumption

• Rising educational levels leading to health-conscious behavior

demographic developments

• Improving survival rates in old age.

• Continuous increase in life expectancy for over 50 years.

These factors have combined to lead to a significant increase in life expectancy. Since 1960, men have gained an average of 10.8 years in life expectancy and women 10.4 years.

Longevity in global comparison

The average global life expectancy at birth is about 73.2 years in 2023 - a significant increase compared to previous decades.

Continental differences

• North America has the highest average life expectancy among the continents at 79.6 years.

• In Europe, the average life expectancy is about 79.1 years.

Countries with the highest life expectancy

1. Monaco: 86.4 years

2. Japan: 85.0 years

3. Singapore: 84.1 years

development trends

• From 1950 to 2019, life expectancy worldwide increased every year.

• In 2019, it reached a peak of 73.4 years.

• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, global life expectancy fell to 71.4 years in 2020 and 2021.

forecasts

• By 2050, life expectancy in North America is expected to be 83.6 years.

• By 2100, Africa, which currently has the lowest life expectancy at 64 years, to 74.9.

These statistics show clear global progress, but also persistent regional differences in life expectancy.

What factors influence our longevity?

What is important is that our life expectancy depends only about 20% on our genes and 80% on our lifestyle and environment. With a healthy lifestyle, we could extend our average life expectancy - by a full 22.6 years for women and 23.7 years for menThis is the conclusion reached by the American study "Impact of 8 lifestyle factors on mortality and life expectancy among United States veterans: The Million Veteran Program". They analyzed data from more than 700.000 US veterans aged 40 to 99 and were able to isolate eight key factors for our lifespan:

1. Physical activity

2. Healthy eating

3. Good handling of stress

4. abstinence from tobacco consumption

5. No excessive alcohol consumption

6. Goods Sleep

7. Positive social relationships

8. No dependence on painkillers

Blue Zones: The Key to Longevity?

Blue Zones are regions in which an above-average proportion of the population lives to be 90 or even 100 years old - and in good health. The term was first coined by the demographer Michel Poulain and the doctor Gianni Pes. They marked the areas on a map with a blue marker where the highest life expectancy was observed - hence the name "Blue Zones".

The reasons for the long life expectancy of the residents are a combination of healthy diet, daily exercise, strong social ties and a positive lifestyle suspected.

Where are the Blue Zones?

Currently five regions known as Blue Zones. These include:

• Okinawa (Japan)

• Sardinia (Italy)

• Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica)

• Ikaria (Greece)

• Loma Linda (California)

Researchers suspect that various cultural and social similarities are the basis for the above-average life expectancy. For example, a plant-based diet, moderate calorie intake, low tobacco or alcohol consumption, regular exercise and strong social ties are among the decisive factors. Several studies have already shown that some of them have a proven life-prolonging effect. The American Dan Buettner has dedicated numerous books and documentaries to the Blue Zones.

In our article "Blue Zones – The Secrets of a Long Healthy Life" you will find more detailed information.