Advertisement

Life expectancy much lower in Germany compared to EU neighbours: study

DPA/The Local
DPA/The Local - [email protected]
Life expectancy much lower in Germany compared to EU neighbours: study
Senior citizens on Mallorca, Spain. Photo: DPA.

A report published on Thursday by the EU Commission has found that average life expectancy in Germany pales in comparison to countries like Spain, Italy and France.

Advertisement

The report, which examined the health of people across the country, found that Germany ranked 18th among the 28 EU countries.

Whereas a baby born in Germany in 2015 can expect to live to an average age of 80.7 years, in Spain, this age is 83. In Italy, researchers found the average life expectancy to be 82.7 years and in France 82.4 years.

But the average age one is expected to reach in Germany is still slightly above the EU average, which is 80.6 years.

The countries that fared less well in the ranking were Lithuania (74.6 years), Bulgaria (74.7 years) and Latvia (74.8 years).

Cardiovascular diseases and cancer remain the most common cause of death in Germany, despite the fact the number of cardiovascular diseases has actually been declining since 2000. Meanwhile cancer as a cause of death has been on the increase.

Cases of diseases having to do with dementia have also become much more frequent, the report states. The number of deaths due to Alzheimer's disease for instance rose from 6,000 in 2000 to 35,000 in 2014.

Excess body weight, smoking and drinking are moreover problems that continue to affect the health of people in the Bundesrepublik.

“Up to 28 percent of the burden of disease in Germany in 2015 could be attributed to behavioural risk factors - one’s diet, smoking, alcohol consumption and low physical activity - as well as high body mass index," the authors of the report write.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also