Life expectancy in Estonia is growing, but far far from the European level

According to the Department of Statistics, the expectation of life in Estonia in 2024 was 79.5 years. This is the biggest growth among all European countries over the past three decades. The average number of years that the inhabitants of Estonia can live in good health is 58.7 years.

“If in 1994 the expectation of life in Estonia was 66.5 years, then in 2024 it reached 79.5 years – this is 13 years more. In Latvia and Lithuania during this time, the increase was about nine years old. Today, life expectancy in Lithuania is 77.6 years, and in Latvia – 75.6 years, ”said the head of the social statistics group of the Department of Statistics of Eveli Voolens. She added that Latvia remains one of the countries with the lowest life expectancy in Europe.

According to her, in Finland, where back in 1994 this indicator was 76.7 years, it grew to 81.6 years – by 4.9 years.
Nevertheless, life expectancy in Estonia is still behind the average level in Europe, which in 2023 amounted to 81.4 years. The highest indicators are in Switzerland and Spain, where people live on average for more than 84 years.

Women make up the majority among long -livers

In Estonia, there is a significant gender gap in life expectancy: women live on average 83.4 years, while men – 75.1 years. The difference is 8.3 years, while on average in the EU it is 5.3 years (84 years in women and 78.7 – for men). This leads to the fact that among people over 80, women are already 74% of the population. At working age, the number of men and women is still approximately equal, but with age the number of men is quickly decreasing.

The number of years lived in good health is growing again

According to data for 2024, residents of Estonia can expect to live without serious health restrictions on average 58.7 years. “Compared to last year, the number of years lived in health has increased by 0.7 years. Men live healthy on average 56.8 years old, women are 60.6 years old, ”Voolens said.

She added that the townspeople live healthy longer than residents of rural areas: in 2024 – 59.7 versus 56.5 years. At the same time, in cities this indicator grew by 1.3 years, and in rural areas decreased by 0.4 years.

Education affects health and longevity

“The level of education really affects the quality of life, which means that both the health and life expectancy. For example, women with higher education live an average of 86 years, and men with only basic education – 68.4 years, ”said Voolens. According to her, a similar picture is also observed among the years lived in health: people with higher education – 64.5 years, with the base – 48.6.
“In 2024, an increase in the number of years lived in good health was observed only among people with higher education. In people with a lower level of education, this indicator either remained the same or decreased, ”she said.

Where do they live longer in Estonia?

The highest expectant life expectancy is recorded in Tartumaa and Kharyumaa – an average of 80.6 years. In cities, people live longer (80.6 years) than in rural areas (77.9 years). The lowest indicator is in Ida-Virumaa: 77 years old. Among women, residents of Saarema (85 years old) live for the longest, and the lowest indicator in the men of Ida-Viruma (71.4 years).
Estonians live on average in health a little longer than non -estates – 59.1 and 57.7 years, respectively. However, the gap has declined, because over the past year the number of years lived in health has grown by 1.4 years among non -estates and only 0.2 among Estonians. At the same time, men of both groups live healthy the same number of years, only women have a difference.

The Post Life expectancy in Estonia is growing, but far far from the European level FIRST Appeared on gazeta.ee.

View Original Source