Key Takeaways
- Average life expectancy in the EU stands at around 80.7 years in 2023. It is well above the global average of roughly 73 years.
- Across all EU countries, women consistently live longer than men. Average life expectancy reaches about 83.5 years for women, compared with around 77.9 years for men.
- Western and Northern Europe lead in longevity, with life expectancy levels commonly exceeding 83 years. In contrast, Central and Eastern Europe show lower levels, with several countries recording total life expectancy in the mid- to high-70s.
- Smaller European countries frequently rank near the top. This underscores that longevity is less about population size and more closely linked to healthcare quality, preventive care, and overall living conditions.
European Countries’ Life Expectancy
Rank | Country | Life expectancy | ||
| Total | Male | Female | ||
| 1 | Liechtenstein | 84.6 | 82.4 | 86.9 |
| 2 | Switzerland | 84.3 | 82.4 | 86.0 |
| 3 | Spain | 84.0 | 81.3 | 86.7 |
| 4 | Italy | 83.5 | 81.4 | 85.4 |
| 5 | Luxembourg | 83.4 | 81.7 | 85.0 |
| 6 | Malta | 83.4 | 81.6 | 85.2 |
| 7 | Sweden | 83.4 | 81.7 | 85.0 |
| 8 | Norway | 83.1 | 81.5 | 84.6 |
| 9 | France | 83.0 | 80.1 | 85.7 |
| 10 | Ireland | 82.9 | 81.1 | 84.6 |
| 11 | Cyprus | 82.9 | 80.9 | 84.9 |
| 12 | Belgium | 82.5 | 80.4 | 84.5 |
| 13 | Portugal | 82.5 | 79.5 | 85.3 |
| 14 | Iceland | 82.4 | 80.7 | 84.3 |
| 15 | Slovenia | 82.0 | 79.1 | 84.9 |
| 16 | Netherlands | 81.9 | 80.4 | 83.4 |
| 17 | Austria | 81.9 | 79.5 | 84.2 |
| 18 | Denmark | 81.8 | 79.9 | 83.7 |
| 19 | Greece | 81.8 | 79.2 | 84.4 |
| 20 | Finland | 81.6 | 79.0 | 84.3 |
| 21 | Germany | 81.1 | 78.7 | 83.5 |
| 22 | Czechia | 79.9 | 76.9 | 82.9 |
| 23 | Estonia | 79.1 | 74.5 | 83.3 |
| 24 | Croatia | 78.6 | 75.5 | 81.8 |
| 25 | Poland | 78.4 | 74.6 | 82.1 |
| 26 | Slovakia | 78.2 | 74.9 | 81.5 |
| 27 | Lithuania | 77.6 | 72.9 | 81.9 |
| 28 | Montenegro | 77.6 | 75.1 | 80.2 |
| 29 | Türkiye | 77.3 | 74.8 | 79.8 |
| 30 | Hungary | 76.7 | 73.4 | 79.9 |
| 31 | Romania | 76.4 | 72.6 | 80.4 |
| 32 | Serbia | 76.2 | 73.8 | 78.6 |
| 33 | Bulgaria | 75.8 | 72.0 | 79.7 |
| 34 | Latvia | 75.6 | 70.5 | 80.6 |
Source: Eurostat
The average life expectancy across the European countries shown stands at 80.7 years.This remains high compared to the worldwide average of around 73 years in 2023 [2].
Men live around 77.9 years on average, while women reach approximately 83.5 years. This creates a gender gap of just over five years.
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Life expectancy tends to be highest in Western and Northern Europe. They include countries such as
- Switzerland (84.3 years)
- Spain (84.0 years)
- Italy (83.5 years)
- Sweden (83.4 years)
By contrast, Central and Eastern Europe generally records lower life expectancy levels. Several countries fall below the European average, such as
- Hungary (76.7 years)
- Romania (76.4 years)
- Bulgaria (75.8 years)
- Latvia (75.6 years)
The gap is most pronounced among men. It points to differences in health behavior, income levels, and historical public health challenges.
Several smaller European countries rank near the top of the table.
- Liechtenstein (84.6 years)
- Luxembourg (83.4 years)
- Malta (83.4 years)
- Iceland (82.4 years
While population size does not determine longevity, these countries usually have high healthcare spending, strong preventive care, and favorable living conditions. This shows how policy choices can translate into longer lives.
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