The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has reported that the European Union (EU) has seen a significant increase in life expectancy in recent years.

The report was released on the 27th of November, following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual assessment of the health of Europe’s residents.

How Long Are Europeans Expected to Live?

According to the report, the life expectancy of Europeans has increased by around three years since the beginning of the millennium, with the average now standing at 81.3 years.

This is slightly higher than the life expectancy in the United States at 78.6 years but is still below the global average of 72 years.

The increase in life expectancy is significant not just in terms of individual health but also for the wider economy.

The OECD report suggests that the extra years of life expectancy could increase economic growth by 1.2% between now and 2050, thanks to a larger labour force and higher levels of productivity.

What Factors Have Contributed to This Increase?

There are a number of factors that have contributed to the increase in life expectancy, including better healthcare, better living conditions, and changes in lifestyle.

The WHO has highlighted a number of factors that have contributed to the increased life expectancy in the EU, including improved vaccination rates, better sanitation, and the reduction of diseases like heart disease and stroke which are often linked to lifestyle factors such as smoking and poor diet.

According to the OECD report, improvements in healthcare have been a major contributor to the increase in life expectancy.

For example, advances in treatment for cancer and heart disease, two of the leading causes of death, have led to significant improvements in survival rates over the last decade.

Other factors that have played a role in the increase in life expectancy include improvements in working and living conditions.

For example, lower levels of air pollution, improved safety in the workplace, and better housing conditions have all contributed to better health outcomes for Europeans.

Are There Any Concerns About This Increase?

Despite the positive news about the increase in life expectancy, there are also concerns about the potential impact on public spending for healthcare and pensions.

Longer life expectancies mean that people will require more healthcare in their later years, and there will also be more people who are eligible for pensions and other types of social spending.

There are also concerns that the gap in life expectancy between different groups in society is growing.

According to the OECD report, people with lower levels of education and income have shorter life expectancies than those with higher levels of education and income, and this gap appears to be widening.

In addition, there are concerns that the increase in life expectancy could put pressure on existing healthcare systems, which are struggling to cope with the demands of an ageing population.

Many governments in the EU are already grappling with high levels of public debt and are struggling to finance healthcare and other types of public spending.

Conclusion

The increase in life expectancy in the EU is a positive development that reflects improvements in healthcare and living conditions.

However, there are also concerns about the potential impact on public spending and the widening gap between different groups in society. Governments and other stakeholders will need to work together to address these concerns and ensure that the benefits of increased life expectancy are shared widely across the population.