Healthy life expectancy is 63 years, says UN

Worldwide, considering the average, it is women who have the longest life, according to data presented in the annual report of the World Health Statistics  and the World Health Organization (WHO).

One of the factors pointed out for this is health care: they take care of themselves less than they do.

Among the data that stood out the most in the report, it was possible to see that life expectancy in the 2000s was 66 years, while in 2016 it increased by 5.5 years, to 72.

However, in countries where society’s average income is lower, life expectancy is 18.1 years less compared to wealthier countries.

In addition, as mentioned above, the difference between genders was also seen in the results.

Read more: Longevity: study traces the relationship between biotypes and life expectancy

They take care of themselves more

In the past 16 years, men have lived an average of 4.4 years less than women. According to the WHO, in developed countries the differences may be even greater.

Of the 40 deadliest causes in the world, 33 affect men more than women.

Among the factors that are related to lower male life expectancy are higher alcohol consumption, smoking and traffic accidents.

Cardiovascular diseases and cancers are also responsible for this difference between the sexes to be greater. And it is not always because the disease affects men more, but because, in general, it is women who go to the doctor more and pay more attention to health.

Read more: Senility: what is, meaning, ICD, senescence, is senile dementia?

In 2016, suicide rates were 75% higher for men compared to women.

For them, the causes of death included other factors as well, such as those related to problems and complications during pregnancy, but this problem is more prevalent in undeveloped countries.

In regions with low income and precarious development, 1 woman in 41 loses her life due to pregnancy-related causes. In high-income countries the rates are 1 in 3300.

Furthermore, analyzing the difference in life expectancy between high and low income countries, there is a difference of about 18 years for both sexes.

But there are improvements, as the report pointed out that, worldwide, people are falling ill later, around 63. Although still low, the average represents an increase of 5.5 years of health.


The World Health Organization report is important for providing data for universal health coverage, designed to serve the entire world population with primary care for the preservation of life.

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