These Are the Healthiest Countries in the World

According to the 2019 Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index, six of the ten healthiest countries in the world are in Europe.

In first place came Spain, which jumped from sixth in 2017. Spain is also, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, set to have the highest global life expectancy in 2040—showing that the Iberian nation is leading the way in both quality of life and longevity.

The pole compared 169 world economies together and was mainly focused on factors such as eating, obesity, tobacco use, and hygiene. The Czech Republic finished in 29th place.

Following Spain is Italy—as it turns out, living la dolce vita is good for your mind, body, and soul. The island of Sardinia in Italy, which has almost 10 times more centenarians per capita than the United States, also follows a Mediterranean diet and encourages an active, outdoor lifestyle with its mild climate.

In third place is Iceland, Japan came in fourth, the first Asian country to make the list. Rounding out the top ten were: Switzerland, Sweden, Australia, Singapore, Norway, and Israel. The United States ranked 35th.

Researchers analyzed data from the World Health Organization and the World Bank, focusing on environmental conditions and access to clean water in addition to the above-mentioned factors. Based on the data, Spain has the highest expected life expectancy among European Union countries, and just lagging behind are Japan and Switzerland. At the end of the ranking, Sub-Saharan African countries have occupied the last two dozen positions.

The reason for this is often the Mediterranean diet, which is largely fish or olive oil. It can make a long-term contribution to reducing the risk of death, especially among older people. Spain’s leading position as the country with the highest expected life expectancy until 2040 has also been confirmed by a study published in 2018 by the Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Slovakia lags behind the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic has reached 29th place in the ranking, which has improved one place compared to the latest data from 2017. 

Author: Lilato Madiri