The latest data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has found that men in Switzerland now have the longest life expectancy in the world. Males born in Switzerland can now expect to live until they are 81,9 years old, while women’s life expectancy has remained at 85,9 years.

One in two children in Switzerland will reach 100 years old

According to the data, reported by RTS, 50 percent of children in Switzerland born after the year 2000 will live until they are 100 years old. It follows the news that Swiss men now have the longest life expectancy in the world, with a boy born in the alpine nation in 2021 now expected to live for 81,9 years. Iceland (81,8) and Norway (81,7) rounded out the podium places.

For women in Switzerland, the outlook also looks positive, according to sociologist Stéphane Cullati, a researcher at the University of Fribourg. "Switzerland ranks fourth, behind Japan, South Korea and Spain", she told RTS, with female life expectancy hovering around 85,6 years. When combined, Switzerland’s average life expectancy (80) is second in the world, only behind Japan (84,7).

Swiss healthcare and healthy living blamed for high life expectancy

According to RTS, Switzerland’s new position at the top of the ranking is the result of long-term processes and a consequence of healthy living and the Swiss healthcare system. "Between 1990 and 2014, life expectancy, in good health, increased by three years for women and five years for men…[someone in their thirties] today can expect to live in good health until the age of 78,8 years for men and 82,8 years for women", Cullati noted.

10 nations with the longest life expectancy

In all, the top 10 countries for life expectancy in 2021 are:

• 1. Japan (84,7)
• 2. Switzerland (84)
• =3. South Korea (83,5)
• =3. Spain (83,3)
• =3. Sweden (83,2)
• =3. Norway (83,2)
• =3. Iceland (83,2)
• =3. Australia (83,2)
• 9. Italy (82,9)
• 10. Luxembourg (82,8)

For more information, check out the OECD website.

Image: Shutterstock.com / Yuri Turkov