Israel Ranks 10th Highest for Global Life Expectancy

January 6, 2023

by: Kate Norman

Friday, 6 January 2023 | Israel boasts the 10th highest life expectancy on the globe, according to a new study by NiceRX based on data from Worldometer’s Life Expectancy of the World Population.

Israelis have an average life expectancy of 83.49, with 81.98 years for men and 84.91 for women, according to the study by NiceRX, a US-based company that helps people get access to affordable prescription medication.

Israel ranks 10th, following Hong Kong, Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, Italy, Spain, Australia, Iceland and South Korea. The list is made of member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Israel also ranked well on healthcare costs, ranking 27th out of 39 countries for health expenditure per capita, with US $3,057 in 2021, compared to the United States, who topped the list at US $12,318 the same year.

The Jewish state’s life expectancy has been on an upward trend over the past few years, the Jerusalem Post reported, citing an OECD report from last year that stated Israelis drink less alcohol and have a lower suicide rate compared to other OECD countries.

The Jerusalem Post also noted a study published in 2016 by the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel which stated that Israel and other countries that employ a mandatory military service have higher life expectancies for men. At the time, the Jerusalem Post noted, Israeli men’s average life expectancy was 81 years, compared to the global average of 68.8 years.

The report attributed the higher life expectancy for men who complete their mandatory military service to an overall level of fitness and health instilled in them from a younger age.

Add that to the Mediterranean diet enjoyed by the Israeli people, which is rich in fish, produce and olive oil, combined with the fundamental right of all Israelis to have access to health care, and the result is an overall healthy society.

And Israel’s life expectancy is expected to get even better over time, according to a 2018 study by researchers from the University of Washington, who projected that Israelis will have the 7th highest life expectancy (84.4 years) by 2040.

Posted on January 6, 2023

Source: (Bridges for Peace, January 6, 2023)

Photo Credit: Michio Nagata/bridgesforpeace.com