According to a recent study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, life expectancy is expected to increase around the world by 2050.
The institute attributes its findings to a number of factors, including “reductions in deaths from cardiovascular disease, respiratory infections, tuberculosis, and maternal and neonatal mortality.”
While the study also cites outliers where life expectancy gains have been much greater (Singapore tops the list with an estimated life expectancy of 88 years), the Southern Europe region has also made progress despite its lower GDP.
Health Expert Discusses Benefits and Risks of Using Castor Oil for Weight Loss
The institute’s findings concluded that the poorer southern European countries of France, Italy, Spain and Portugal will see increased life expectancy by 2050. The world’s oldest woman is María Branyas-Morera, a Spaniard, who is 117 years old.
Despite their high life expectancies and low GDPs, these relatively poor countries share a common characteristic: more wealth typically translates to better health outcomes around the world.
A man in a wheelchair was spotted on Somorrostro Beach in Barcelona, Spain. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Unlike other countries in the top 20 longevity rankings included in the study, such as Switzerland and Denmark, health may not necessarily mean wealth in these southern European countries.
According to a 2017 study, Spaniards walk an average of 5,936 steps per day. For comparison, the average American walks just 4,774 steps, according to the same study. Countries like Italy and Spain have a long tradition of walking and other forms of physical activity, which may explain their higher life expectancies.
People sit outdoors at a cafe in Barcelona, Spain. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Moreover, Spanish cities are more densely populated than other cities. Regular social interaction may contribute to a longer life expectancy. A Gallup poll of Spaniards in 2023 found that just over three-quarters, or 76%, felt they had “a lot” or “a lot” of social support.
Intergenerational family life is also more common among Spaniards than Americans, with the same survey reporting that 83% of Spaniards had seen “friends or family members who live with or nearby” during the same week of the survey.
Click here to get the FOX News app
The institute predicts that life expectancy in France, Italy, Portugal and Spain will be between 84 and 86 years in 2050.
