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More years, better living

13 June 2025

With cutting-edge medical advancements and widespread vaccination programmes, people are living longer than ever before. They say that 60 is the new 50, so if you are nearing the next chapter of life, why not make the most of your golden years by embracing new experiences, pursuing passions and enjoying life to the fullest?

A study published in the international medical journal “The Lancet”, based on data from the United Nations, shows that between 2022 and 2050, global average life expectancy at birth is expected to rise from 73.6 to 78.2 – that’s an increase of 4.6 years.1 Six Asian regions already boast an average life expectancy that exceeds 80 years, signalling that living beyond 80 is becoming the new norm. In particular, Hong Kong surpasses Japan as having the highest life expectancy in Asia (Table 1). 2

Therefore, effective retirement planning, such as maintaining good physical health and selecting a suitable retirement location, is crucial for ensuring a fulfilling life in the 20-plus years that follow retirement.

Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy

According to 2023 United Nations data, Hong Kong's average life expectancy at birth reaches an impressive 85.5 years, followed by Japan at 84.7 years. Across Asia, South Korea stands at 84.3 years, Singapore at 83.7 years, while Mainland China, Malaysia and Vietnam have life expectancies of 78, 76.7 and 74.6 years, respectively.

Table 1

Global average life expectancy at birth

Region

Life expectancy at birth (years)

Monaco

86.4

Hong Kong SAR

85.5

Japan

84.7

South Korea

84.3

Singapore

83.7

Macau SAR

83.1

Taiwan region

80.6

Mainland China

78

Malaysia

76.7

Vietnam

74.6

India

72

Indonesia

71.1

Philippines

69.8

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Global life expectancy is steadily rising, but longevity doesn’t always equate to good health — living longer could mean spending more years in poor health. Take Singapore as an example: while the average life expectancy is 83.7 years, Table 2 reveals that the expected healthy life expectancy is only 73.65 years.3 The data suggests that, on average, Singaporeans spend nearly a decade dealing with health challenges.

In fact, over the last 20 years, the gap between how long people live (lifespan) and how long they stay healthy (healthspan) has grown to 9.6 years on average in 183 World Health Organization member states. This gap is wider for women, who live about 2.4 years longer in poor health compared to men. This is due to the growing impact of chronic diseases.4

Lifestyle choices play a crucial role in determining both lifespan and healthspan. Another medical study found that among the elderly Chinese (65 and older) who adopt a healthy lifestyle, even later in life, could reduce their mortality risk and increase their life expectancy.5 This highlights the importance of healthy living habits for extending your lifespan, especially among those with high genetic risk factors. Therefore, even at the age of 70, individuals can actively improve their healthspan, significantly enhance their quality of life, and make the next chapter more fulfilling.

 


 

Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022–2050: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. (2021). The Lancet. Volume 403, (Issue 10440), P2204 – 2256. Available at: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)00685-8/fulltext

World Population Prospects 2024. (2024). The Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the United Nations. Available at: https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/world-population-prospects-2024

Healthy life expectancy (HALE) at birth (years). (2021). World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/gho-ghe-hale-healthy-life-expectancy-at-birth

Armin Garmany and Andre Terzic. (2024). Global Healthspan-Lifespan Gaps Among 183 World Health Organization Member States. JAMA Network (Volume 7) Issue12. Available at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2827753

Healthy lifestyle in late-life, longevity genes, and life expectancy among older adults: a 20-year, population-based, prospective cohort study.(2023) The Lancet Healthy Longevity. Volume 4, (Issue 10), e535-e543. Available at: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(23)00140-X/fulltext

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