France leads Europe as older adults gain nearly two extra healthy years
France has seen a notable rise in healthy life expectancy for its older population. Between 2008 and 2022, the number of years a 65-year-old could expect to live without severe disability increased by nearly two years. This improvement outpaced the EU average, placing France among the top nations for healthspan in Europe.
In 2023, France ranked third in the EU for women's healthspan expectancy and seventh for men. Data from Eurostat showed that, by 2022, a 65-year-old French woman could expect 20.1 years without severe disability—up from 18.5 years in 2008. For men, the figure rose from 16.8 to 19.2 years over the same period. These gains exceeded the EU average, where women saw an increase of just 0.8 years and men 1.5 years.
Countries like Sweden and the Netherlands recorded similar progress, while Italy and Spain experienced smaller improvements. Experts suggest France's strong performance may stem from its low obesity rates and reduced mortality from ischaemic heart disease. The nation also benefits from one of the lowest levels of out-of-pocket healthcare costs in Europe.
By 2024, the healthspan for 65-year-olds in France reached 11.8 years for women and 10.5 years for men. This contrasts with England and Wales, where men of the same age could expect only 9.8 to 10.1 years in good health, and women 10.4 to 11.2 years. Researchers attribute the gains in France to delayed onset of chronic diseases, more effective treatments, and better adaptation to health issues.
Women in France generally live longer than men, partly due to lower rates of chronic debilitating conditions. The steady rise in healthspan reflects broader improvements in public health and medical care across the country.
France's healthspan gains highlight its position as a leader in healthy ageing within the EU. The data suggests that continued progress in disease prevention and healthcare access will likely support further improvements. For now, older adults in France enjoy more years of good health compared to many of their European neighbours.
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