The Japanese have lost the world leadership in life expectancy
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Japanese women for the first time in 26 years lost their world leadership in life expectancy. They succumbed to the inhabitants of Hong Kong, reports The Japan Times with reference to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan.
The Office published a report, which presents data on the average life expectancy in different countries for 2011. According to the document, the indicator for Japanese women decreased compared to last year's for 0.4 years and was 85.9 years. Residents of Hong Kong, who came in first place, live on average 86.7 years.
The Japanese Ministry of Health called the devastating earthquake and tsunami that occurred in March 2011 as the reason for the decrease in the life expectancy of women, as well as the increased number of suicides among young Japanese women. According to the ministry, the incidence of suicide compared to 2010 increased by one third and amounted to 16.3 cases per 100,000 women aged 25 to 29 years.
Among men in terms of average duration, Hong Kong residents are also leading, for which the figure was 80.5 years. In second place were the Swiss, who on average survive to the age of 80.2 years. The life expectancy of Icelanders, who have become third, is approaching 80 years.
Information on the life expectancy of Russians is available on the website of the Federal State Statistics Service. According to the latest published data, in 2009, the figures for men and women were 62.8 and 74.7 years, respectively.