As part of their data collection for the World Factbook, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) combs through death certificates, recording race, gender, cause of death, and other factors to estimate the life expectancy of a nation's entire population. Calculating the average life expectancy of the world's total population at 67.59 years, the CIA has determined which societies live longer.
Filipinos are expected to live 71.94 years on average – placing 132nd out of 221 nations. Our obesity rate is fair at 4.3% of population. We are fortunate that there are 89 other nations having shorter life spans than us. However, if we care to improve on this, we should seriously take note of how the top 10 better performing nations are faring to improve the lot of their people. We assume, of course, that we are not intentionally following the lead of the 89 other “worse” nations in order to restrain our galloping population growth.
In the United States, average life expectancy is 78.49 years, well above the world's norm. Many experts attribute this to ongoing medical developments, which have dealt with conditions that used to mow Americans down early. The United States ranks 50th on the CIA's life expectancy list. According to the World Factbook, the following 10 nations seem to have discovered the secret to longevity.
10th. Italy - Average Life Expectancy: 81.86 years
Italians live an average of 9.92 years longer than Pinoys. Many experts draw a connection between their longevity and diet-- which is more than just pasta, meat, and cheese. The Mediterranean diet is credited with lowering the risk for all sorts of diseases. The antioxidants found in olive oil and red wine--two key features of an Italian meal-- can improve cholesterol, prevent blood clots, and stave off heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. Italians also rely on spices like basil, oregano, and garlic to flavor their cuisine, while we depend heavily on salt. As such, Italians improve their odds against high blood pressure and stroke.
9th. Australia - Average Life Expectancy: 81.90 years
Aussies live 9.96 years longer than Pinoys. Australia's long life expectancy can be attributed to several factors, including relatively low smoking and obesity rates, as well as an active lifestyle enjoyed by its citizens. But many Australian medical experts insist that the secret to Aussies' longevity is universal healthcare. While the ability to obtain healthcare in the United States depends heavily on employment status and personal wealth, Australians have access to necessary care no matter how much they make. That said, Aussies shouldn't get too comfortable; the obesity rate at 33.9% is steadily climbing, which could undercut their longevity in years ahead.
8th. Hong Kong - Average Life Expectancy: 82.12 years
Hong Kongers can expect to live more than 10 years longer than us. Like Italians, people from Hong Kong can partly attribute their longer lives to their diet -- rice, vegetables, and tofu are staples-- and active lifestyle. Hong Kong reports a much lower obesity level than the United States does, as well as fewer instances of obesity-related health conditions, like diabetes.
7th. Guernsey - Average Life Expectancy: 82.24 years
This small island in the English Channel is not a member of the United Kingdom or the European Union, despite being a British crown dependency. Its independence means Guernsey has not been affected by its neighbors' flailing economies. How does this tie into the long life expectancies of Channel Islanders? One theory: Guernsey residents live longer because they are wealthy, which affords them above-average healthcare and better nutrition. Channel Islanders are well-off, thanks to Guernsey's extremely low tax rates and high-paying jobs. These islanders are expected to live 10.3 years longer than Pinoys.
6th. Andorra - Average Life Expectancy: 82.50 years
Several factors may explain why Andorrans outlive residents of other countries. They outlive us by 10.56 years. First, this tiny nation, sandwiched between France and Spain in the Pyrenees mountains, promotes an active, outdoor lifestyle. Residents have easy access to hiking trails and ski resorts, while clean and well-maintained parks are often used for friendly games of soccer and rugby. Its citizens spend lots of time outside, which experts say can lower stress levels and consequently, cardiovascular problems like high blood pressure. Secondly, the CIA states that 100 percent of Andorra's population is educated. High education levels account for Andorra's extremely low unemployment rate. This means most Andorrans can afford high-quality nutrition and healthcare.
5th. San Marino - Average Life Expectancy: 83.07 years
Europe's third smallest state --behind Vatican City and Monaco-- and the world's oldest republic has a life expectancy that trumps us by 11.13 years. Money plays a major role here, as it does in both Guernsey and Andorra, but another key ingredient could be the nation's work environment. This enclave on the Italian peninsula didn't rake in its riches through manual labor. San Marino's primary industries are banking and tourism, with the majority of the Sammarinese working in office settings. This drastically reduces the number of work-related deaths -- a big problem elsewhere.
4th. Singapore - Average Life Expectancy: 83.75 years
A sound diet and a clean environment contribute to the longevity exhibited by the population of this fast-paced city-state, located on the southern edge of the Malay Peninsula. Like in Hong Kong, Singapore's cuisine centers on rice and vegetables, which are rich in nutrients that help keep residents healthy and active. Singapore's government also enforces a strict code of cleanliness --such as heavily restricted smoking areas-- to ensure that all residents live in healthy surroundings. Interestingly, back in the 1980s, the government recognized that the nation's population was aging steadily, and with careful planning, Singapore with obesity rate of 6.9% now features excellent healthcare facilities and programs for the elderly. Singaporeans outlive us by 11.81 years.
3rd. Japan - Average Life Expectancy: 83.91 years
Japan boasts of an impressive obesity rate: 3.1% compared with our 4.3% and 33.9% of the United States population. Much of the credit is owed to the Japanese diet, which revolves around fresh vegetables, rice, and most importantly, fish. Fresh fish is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote healthy blood pressure levels and reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids encourage healthy brain function, helping prevent diseases like Alzheimer's. The Japanese also make healthier lifestyle choices: They tend to walk more and not overeat. They outlive us by almost 12 years.
2nd. Macau - Average Life Expectancy: 84.43 years
Like several other nations on this list, Macau can attribute its high life expectancy to its fruitful economy. But why this tiny nation in the South China Sea is so prosperous might surprise you: Gambling is its main source of revenue, and 70 percent of the money generated on the casino floor is reportedly invested by the Macau government in public healthcare. The island has a variety of casinos, many of which are owned by the same bigwigs who gave Las Vegas its "Sin City" reputation. In January 2012, Macau welcomed 2,461,640 visitors looking to test Lady Luck.
It is interesting to note that with respect to gambling, we are aiming to follow Macau’s lead. Right now Macauns outlive us by 12.49 years.
1st. Monaco - Average Life Expectancy: 89.68 years
Residents of Monaco live, on average, 5.25 years longer than the second longest-living nation, Macau; that's approximately 18 years longer than the average Pinoy’s. Monaco shares several aspects with other long-living nations, including an abundance of wealth and state-funded healthcare. Monaco residents also live on a Mediterranean diet, which is associated with a reduced risk for a variety of health problems, including cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. But many say it's Monaco's relaxing atmosphere that keeps residents hanging on until a ripe old age. Its location along the Mediterranean Sea and clean environment do their part to reduce stress, which can lower immunity and contribute to cardiovascular diseases.
Meanwhile, it is just as important to look at the causes why there are nations with a much shorter life expectancy – situations that we should know and should therefore avoid. Here are the 10 tail-enders.
212th: Mozambique - At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest countries. Socialist mismanagement and a brutal civil war from 1977-92 exacerbated the situation. It has the lowest GDP per capita, one of the worst human development index and one of the highest inequality levels in the world. It has a life expectancy of 52.02 years.
213th: Lesotho – Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho relies on remittances from Basotho employed in South Africa, customs duties from the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), and export revenue for the majority of government revenue. Most of the labor force is engaged in subsistence agriculture, especially livestock herding, although drought has decreased agricultural activity. It is an enclave of South Africa that is severely afflicted by HIV/AIDS. Its citizens can hope to live 51.86 years.
214th: Zimbabwe - It is subject to recurrent economic and food crisis, described by some observers as the country's worst humanitarian crisis since independence. It has been attributed in varying degrees to the government's price controls and land confiscations, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and a drought affecting the entire region. Its life expectancy is 51.82 years.
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215th: Somalia – It is characterized as a failed state and is one of the poorest and most violent states in the world. It has experienced two decades of war and lacks formal government; Somalia has maintained an informal economy. Longevity is 50.80 years.
216th: Central African Republic - It remains as one of the poorest countries in the world and among the ten poorest countries in Africa. Life expectancy is 50.48 years.
217th: Afghanistan's economy is recovering from decades of conflict. The economy has improved significantly since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 largely because of the infusion of international assistance. Decades of war made it the most dangerous country in the world. Its people’s life span is 49.72 years.
218th: Swaziland - 75% of the population are employed in subsistence farming, and 60% live on less than the equivalent of US$1.25 per day. Their lives are endangered by its disastrous HIV epidemic. Their life span is 49.42 years.
219th: South Africa – Although it has the largest economy in Africa, and the 28th largest in the world, estimates for this country explicitly take into account the after-effects of apartheid - excess mortality due to AIDS, resulting in very low life expectancy of 49.41 years, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, and lower population growth rates.
220th: Guinea-Bissau - One of the poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau's legal economy depends mainly on farming and fishing, but trafficking narcotics is probably the most lucrative trade. Life expectancy is 49.11 years.
221th: Chad РPart of France's African holdings until 1960, it endured three decades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The Libyan conflict disrupted inflows of remittances to Chad's impoverished western region which relies on income from Chadians living in Libya. It remains plagued by political violence, corruption and recurrent attempted coups d'̩tat The citizens of the Republic of Chad in central Africa are only expected to live 48.69 years.
In summary, the longevity bottom dwellers, all Africans, except for Afghanistan, have undergone decades of fratricidal conflict and foreign intervention and exploitation that left them unable to have effective national self-governance. The fractious chicken-and-egg situation left them impoverished, uneducated and helpless, bereft of adequate healthcare.
It may be a long way off, but what we, Filipinos, really need to improve our lot is consistent good governance resulting in better wealth distribution that will allow state-funded education and universal healthcare. Being a nation of sunny islands in the Pacific, we have healthy diet including the miraculous coconut within our reach and in a relaxing environment – an enviable situation that should push us closer to reach 100 years longevity.
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| AMDG |
Excellent article. This should be submitted to major dailies.
ReplyDeleteThanks,Edd. I have not made an effort to publicize my blogs - maybe in time.
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