Spain Will Have Longest Life Expectancy While U.S. Lags

Spain to Top Life Expectancy List

Japan will fall to second place by 2040 U S to drop from 43rd to 64th in rankings

Getty Images A Spanish man gives a toast. Spainards are expected to have the highest life expectancy in 20 years. Global life expectancy for virtually every nation will rise in the next 20 years, but Spain will be the big winner, overtaking Japan as the country with the longest-lived population, according to new research. And while the average U.S. lifespan will increase, the United States will fall from 43rd to 64th place on a global list of 195 nations. Researchers at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation found that by 2040 Spain will surpass Japan in , edging it out with an average of 85.8 years, compared with 85.7 years. Singapore and Switzerland, in third and fourth place, are projected to have life expectancies slightly longer than 85 years. For expert tips to help feel your best, . The U.S. average is expected to be 79.8 years, older than the but lagging behind almost two dozen other countries, mainly in the West but also including China, where life expectancy will exceed 80 years for the first time. Much of the reason behind the relatively stagnant U.S. average is the that each year is claiming thousands of lives prematurely. By contrast, analysts believe Spain’s rise may be in part attributable to the Mediterranean diet and a robust health care system. The World Health Organization has ranked Spain seventh in the world for its system; the U.S. ranks 37th.

Also of Interest

Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.