Life expectancy is an important measure of human development.
Although we are living longer now, people are not in good health during these extra years.
What are the challenges to achieving widespread longevity? Where are people living longer and healthier lives that can enlighten us?
Life expectancy in the United States in 2022 has rebounded somewhat compared to the pandemic, but it remains disturbingly below pre-pandemic levels. This is part of a long-term trend in the United States. Life expectancy in the United States peaked in 2013 and has since leveled off or even declined slightly.
Most people pay attention to life expectancy data only occasionally. Although not perfect, life expectancy is an important measure of human prosperity. We may take it for granted now, but in the long span of human history, most human lives are surprisingly short.
As recently as the late 18th century, life expectancy in England (then one of the most advanced countries in the world) was only around 35 years. The advances of the 20th and early 21st centuries have led to a dramatic increase in human longevity, one of the most astonishing and precious achievements of modern times.
It is tempting to view stagnation and decline in life expectancy as a uniquely American problem, and to some extent this is true. Countries such as Norway, South Korea and Ireland saw little decline in life expectancy during the pandemic; Other countries, such as Singapore, Spain and Japan, are seeing significant increases in life expectancy, although figures in the United States have stagnated.
Life expectancy has increased around the World. Image: Our World in Data
But in a broader sense, the whole world has a life expectancy problem. Healthy life expectancy (HALE), as calculated by the World Health Organization (WHO), has not kept pace with overall life expectancy, meaning that we are living longer, but in poorer health during those extra years.
Longevity economy
The healthy longevity of human beings drives a stable and successful longevity economy. The concept of a longevity economy is outlined in the World Economic Forum’s new report, Principles for a Longevity Economy: Foundations for Future Financial Resilience.
The longevity economy is threatened by poor health and longevity, especially in poor, underserved communities.
Since longevity is a new trend, it’s not surprising that society hasn’t done a great job of exploring how to achieve the broadest possible longevity. In the 20th century, human longevity was largely brought about by medical advances, such as a decline in maternal and infant mortality.
Low child mortality is a recent achievement. Image: Our World in Data
As a result, we tend to think of healthcare as a key factor in determining future healthy life expectancy. But while we shouldn’t underestimate the importance of health care for people, other factors are also affecting the health and longevity of modern humans.
In the 21st century, achieving widespread longevity faces multiple challenges, including economic inequality, access to education and lifelong learning, access to social relationships, and how to keep aging populations actively engaged and supportive of society.
An American success story
Over the past year, the Stanford Longevity Center’s Century of Life podcast has discussed several communities in the United States where life expectancy is longer and older adults are healthier. These communities differ greatly in geography and demographics, but they all have one thing in common: they provide stability, relationships, and social support for residents throughout their lives.
For example, Presidio County, one of the poorest areas in Texas, has one of the 10 highest life expectancy counties in the United States. This is an outlier in statistics, and its success is no mystery: strong family networks and multigenerational living patterns bring social support, connection and purpose to young and old alike. Presidio County is 75 miles from the nearest hospital, but that doesn’t stop its residents from being in good health.
Compared to other areas around New York City, the Co-op City in the Bronx has a significantly longer life expectancy. Co-op City is one of the largest employee housing complexes in the United States. For nearly half a century, it has provided secure, affordable housing for middle-income families in increasingly expensive metropolitan areas.
This kind of affordable housing protects people’s economic security, builds strong social networks and creates a stable life for people. In North America’s largest retirement community, people are living longer and healthier lives.
In fact, there is a lack of concerted public policy efforts, not just in the United States but in most places, to ensure that longer old age is purposeful, socially connected, and therefore healthy. Most places fail to maximize the value of older people. This is a critical question, perhaps even existential. In an age of longer life expectancy and declining birth rates, we must ensure that older people are healthy and productive.
A global success story
Fortunately, there are some successful examples around the world that show us how to rethink to make people live longer and healthier lives.
Singapore is concerned about this issue and has made significant investments, such as making multigenerational living the norm, launching lifelong learning programmes to prepare for work and strengthen cognitive abilities. Currently, Singapore is developing the Queenstown Health District project, which may be the world’s most comprehensive effort to support healthy aging.
Singapore is not alone: Barcelona’s social superblocks offer support, are within walking distance and are well-connected. Japan has been developing more flexible working models for older people, such as using artificial intelligence to support job matching and sharing. What all these programs have in common is that older people are not seen as aging takers in society, but as integral members of the economy and community.
The main challenge of living longer in the new era is that we not only live longer, but also be more productive and healthier. As in Singapore, Spain, and Presidio County, Texas, this requires us to build stronger communities and pursue more purposeful lives.