Life Expectancy In Czechia Reaches Record Of 77 For Men, 83 For Women

Life expectancy in the Czech Republic could reach 77 years for men and 83 years for women this year, exceeding the pre-pandemic record from 2019, the Czech Statistical Office (CSU), told in a press conference.

CSU published a projection of demographic development until 2101, predicting that life expectancy in the Czech Republic could be extended by almost 12.5 years for men and more than 9.5 years for women by the end of the century.

According to the development of life expectancy, the retirement age for people in their fifties should be recalculated every year, as foreseen in the draft pension reform.

The gradual increase in life expectancy in the Czech Republic was reversed during COVID-19, as mortality rates rose in the epidemic. While in 2019, life expectancy was 76.3 years for men and 82.1 for women, it dropped by 1 year for men and 0.7 for women in the first COVID year of 2020.

The year before last, life expectancy fell to 74.1 years for men and 80.5 years for women. Last year, however, it started to increase again. The figure has thus returned to 2018 levels, but still has not matched pre-COVID highs.

The projection assumes three scenarios: a low, pessimistic one, the most likely medium one, and the highest optimistic one.

Under the medium scenario, life expectancy by mid-century could extend by more than five years for men, to 82.2 years, and by about four years for women, to 87.1 years. Nemecková pointed out that some developed European countries are already seeing such figures.

At the end of the century, life expectancy in the Czech Republic could reach 89.4 years for men and 92.6 years for women. According to Nemeckova, the longer lives will be mainly due to a reduction in mortality in older age groups.

Economists and other experts say that with an ageing society and longer lives, the pension system is unsustainable without reforms.

An increase in the retirement age is expected to slow down the sharp rise in spending and deficits. Depending on life expectancy trends, people who are just turning 50 should have their retirement age reset every year for the next few years.

Under the proposed pension amendment, they would have their retirement age rise to 65.