According to a recent analysis of Eurostat figures by Sampension, Danish life expectancy has seen a significant increase over the last two decades. In 2002, the life expectancy of a Danish
newborn was only 77.1 years, which was lower than the EU average of 77.6 years. However, as of 2021, the life expectancy of a Danish newborn has jumped by 4.4 years to 81.5 years, surpassing the EU average of 80.1 years.
Historically, high drinking and smoking rates have taken a toll on Danish life expectancy, particularly among men. However, the analysis shows that men are now making significant inroads. A newborn boy can now expect to live 4.8 years longer than 20 years ago, while a newborn girl can expect to live 3.9 years longer. The head of market and customer advice at Sampension, Anne-Louise Lindkvist, commented that while women generally live longer than men, men are catching up. The gap between men's and women's life expectancy is now the smallest it has been in over 60 years.
The analysis also reveals that only four other countries have seen a more substantial rise in life expectancy over the same period: Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. Denmark's achievement in surpassing the EU average can be attributed to various factors, including an overall improved public health system in the country.
While Norway and Sweden still have longer life expectancies than Denmark, at 83.2 and 83.1 years, respectively, Denmark's progress over the last two decades is impressive. Lindkvist concluded that Danes' life expectancy has increased significantly in recent decades due to various factors, including an improved public health system. She also noted that Denmark's life expectancy has not been affected to the same extent by the COVID-19 pandemic as in most of Europe.
In conclusion, the analysis by Sampension reveals that Danish life expectancy has seen a significant increase over the last two decades, particularly among men. Denmark's life expectancy is now above the EU average, with only a few countries seeing a more substantial rise. The achievement can be attributed to various factors, including an improved public health system in Denmark. Photo by Andreas Lehner, Wikimedia commons.