Australia in World Top Five
Australia ranked equal fourth in WHO world life expectancy 2016 report.
Australia’s life expectancy is now ranked fourth in the world, with babies of both sexes born in 2015 expected to live an average 82.8 years.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently released the statistics, putting Australia behind Japan, Switzerland and Singapore and ahead of the UK and US.
Japan led with the highest life expectancy of 83.7 years, Switzerland followed with 83.4 years, and Singapore, 83.1. Spain equalled Australia at 82.8 years.
Since 2000, overall global life expectancy has increased by 5 years. Richer countries had an average life-expectancy of 80 plus years, at least 20 years more than babies born in sub-Sahara Africa. Sierra Leone had the lowest life expectancy in the world, with an average 50.1 years.
The WHO also reported on years of expected good health for babies born in 2015 around the world. The world wide average was 63.1 years for both men and women; Australia’s was 71.9 years, Japan’s 74.9 years and Sierra Leone was 44.4 years.
According to the report, the main contributors to the loss of healthy years include musculoskeletal disorders (particularly back and neck pain), mental (depression) and substance use disorders, neurological disorders, vision and hearing loss, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
Top 10 countries with the highest life expectancy:
• Japan 83.7
• Switzerland 83.4
• Singapore 83.1
• Australia 82.8
• Spain 82.8
• Italy 82.7
• Iceland 82.7
• Israel 82.5
• France 82.4
• Sweden 82.4
View the WHO full report http://www.who.int/gho/en/
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