In terms of life expectancy, there are not only significant global differences - even regionally, the data on the topic of Longevity in Germany varies. We have collected and compared various statistics on lifespan.
Longevity in Germany: Overview and International Comparison
We live to an average age of 81.2 years in Germany. This places us among the laggards in Western Europe - and this is despite the fact that we spend the most money on health. This conclusion was reached by the study of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
With our well-developed healthcare system, we actually have the best chances for above-average lifespan and health span.Instead, the gap to other countries has steadily increased over the past 20 years, as the study "Mortality Development in Germany in an International Context" (2024) by the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) and the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research shows.
While in the year 2000 we lagged behind by 0.73 years for men and 0.74 years for women, by 2019 it was already 1.43 and 1.34 years. The difference is not enormous, but the trend continues to point towards an increase. The increased mortality rate among people of middle and older age is primarily due to non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases or undiagnosed high blood pressure.
On the list of countries by average life expectancy, we are now only in 38th place.Before us lie, for example, Monaco (the country with the highest life expectancy), Japan in 4th place, Sweden in 18th place, Austria in 25th place, or Finland in 34th place. (As of: 2023)
Development of Longevity in Germany
The life expectancy in Germany has significantly increased in recent decades - however, the rise has slowed down recently:
Long-term Development
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Since 1871, life expectancy has more than doubled.
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From 1950 to 2019, life expectancy increased continuously every year.
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In the last 25 years (from the early 1990s to 2015/2017), life expectancy for women increased by 4.2 years to 83.2 years and for men by 5.9 years to 78.4 years.
Recent developments
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Until 2009/2011, the average annual increase was about 0.3 years for both genders.
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From 2009/2011 to 2017/2019, the annual increase slowed to an average of 0.1 years.
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The COVID-19 pandemic led to a decline in life expectancy for the first time in 2020.
Current figures
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By 2021/23, life expectancy increased to 77.4 years for newborn boys and 83.6 years for newborn girls.
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After the pandemic-related decline, a slight increase of 0.1 years for both genders was recorded in 2021/2023.
Forecasts
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By 2070, the average life expectancy for women could rise to 88.2 years and for men to 84.6 years, according to forecasts.
Regional Differences
Baden-Württemberg leads the list of federal states with the highest life expectancy:
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Women: 84.11 years
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Men: 79.72 years
In contrast, Saxony-Anhalt has the lowest life expectancy:
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Women: 82.28 years
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Men: 75.78 years
North-South Divide
There is a clear North-South divide in life expectancy:
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Southern German federal states such as Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria have the highest life expectancy.
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Northern German states like Bremen and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern tend to have a lower life expectancy.
East-West differences
Historically, there have been and still are significant differences between East and West Germany:
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After reunification, life expectancy in East Germany increased significantly.
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Today, girls in East and West Germany have a similar life expectancy of about 83 years.
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For boys, there is still a difference: 76.8 years in East Germany compared to 78.5 years in West Germany.
Why has life expectancy almost constantly increased in recent decades?
In recent decades, several factors have contributed to the increase in life expectancy in Germany:
Medical progress
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Improved treatment and prevention of age-related diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases
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Control of infectious diseases
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Advances in medical technology and disease prevention
Healthier lifestyle
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Trend towards conscious and balanced nutrition
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Increase in physical activity
Decline in tobacco and alcohol consumption
Improved living conditions
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Increased material wealth
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Better working conditions
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Improvement of housing situation and hygiene
Social and political factors
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Expansion of the social security system and long-term care insurance
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Health policy measures to curb tobacco and alcohol consumption
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Increasing education levels leading to health-conscious behavior
Demographic developments
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Improvement of survival chances in older age.
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Continuous increase in life expectancy for over 50 years.
These factors have interacted and led to a significant increase in life expectancy. Since 1960, men have gained an average of 10.8 years and women 10.4 years in life expectancy.
Longevity in global comparison
The average global life expectancy at birth in 2023 is about 73.2 years - a significant increase compared to previous decades.
Continental differences
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North America has the highest average life expectancy among the continents at 79.6 years.
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In Europe, the average life expectancy is about 79.1 years.
Countries with the highest life expectancy
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Monaco: 86.4 years
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Japan: 85.0 years
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Singapore: 84.1 years
Development trends
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From 1950 to 2019, life expectancy increased worldwide every year.
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In 2019, it reached a peak of 73.4 years.
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, global life expectancy fell to 71.4 years in 2020 and 2021.
Forecasts
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By 2050, a life expectancy of 83.6 years is expected in North America.
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By 2100, Africa, which currently has the lowest life expectancy at 64 years, could catch up to 74.9.
These statistics show significant global progress, but also persistent regional differences in life expectancy.
What factors influence our longevity?
Importantly: 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 men.The American study "Impact of 8 lifestyle factors on mortality and life expectancy among United States veterans: The Million Veteran Program" came to this conclusion. They analyzed data from more than 700.000 US veterans aged 40 to 99 years and were able to isolate eight significant factors for our lifespan:
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Physical activity
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Healthy diet
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Good management of stress
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Avoidance of tobacco use
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No excessive alcohol consumption
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Good sleep
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Positive social relationships
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No dependence on painkillers
Blue Zones: The Key to Longevity?
Blue Zones are regions where an above-average proportion of the population reaches 90 or even 100 years of age – and does so in good health.The term was first coined by the demographer Michel Poulain and the doctor Gianni Pes. They marked on a map the areas with a blue marking where the highest life expectancy was observed – hence the name "Blue Zones".
The reasons for the high lifespan of the residents are suspected to be a combination of healthy diet, daily exercise, strong social ties, and a positive lifestyle.
Where are the Blue Zones located?
Currently, five regions are referred to as the so-called Blue Zones.These include:
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Okinawa (Japan)
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Sardinia (Italy)
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Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica)
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Ikaria (Greece)
- Loma Linda (California)
Researchers suspect that various cultural and social commonalities 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 crucial factors. Some studies have already shown that some of these factors can extend life. The American Dan Buettner has dedicated himself to the Blue Zones in numerous books and documentaries.In our article "Blue Zones – The Secrets of a Long Healthy Life", you will find more detailed information on this.
