Japan can expect longer, healthier lives than other nationalities: WHO

(VNF) - People from Japan live longer, healthier lives than those from any other country, based on the latest World Health Statistics report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) released on May 17^th.

Japan ranked first for life expectancy at birth across both genders, following by Switzerland (second) and Singapore (third), out of all countries for which there were data. According to the report, the average life expectancy at birth for is 83.7 years. Swiss nationals can expect to live for 83.4 years, and life expectancy for Singaporeans is 83.1 years.

However, Singapore did even better in terms of healthy life expectancy at birth. This represents the number of years a person can expect to live in "full health" by taking into account years lived in less than full health due to disease and/or injury. In this respect, Singapore has an average healthy life expectancy of 73.9 years, putting it second to Japan (74.9 years).

Japan’s women can expect to live 6.3 years longer than men there (an average life expectancy at birth of 86.8 years compared to 80.5 years for men.

Women in Singapore also can expect to live about six years longer than men there, with an average life expectancy at birth of 86.1 years (compared to 80 years for men).

In the other countries outliving the rest of the world, good health comes from wealth -- and the consequences of a strong economy and health system.

Along with Singapore and Switzerland, Monaco, Andorra, Australia, Canada, Luxembourg and New Zealand are all on the list for a joint silver medal for life expectancy at 60 -- living to an average of 85.

(Source: World Health Organisation)

Vietnam ranked 67^th out of 183 countries for which there were on the chart. The average life expectancy at birth across all genders is 76 years and the healthy life expentancy at birth of the average person is 66.6 years. Women in Vietnam can expect to live about 9.4 years longer than men there, with an average life expectancy at birth of 80.7 years, compared to 71.3 years for men.

The global average life expectancy at birth across all genders is 71.4 years according to the report, and the healthy life expectancy of the average person globally is 63.1 years.

By measuring life expectancy at age 60, factors such as childhood illness and issues earlier in life are discounted and longevity is more related to an inpidual's lifestyle and environment during older age.

Published annually, the WHO's World Health Statistics report contains health data from 194 countries, including mortality, disease, and health system indicators.

For full report: http://www.who.int/gho/publications/world_health_statistics/en/

Compiled by VNF