Japan's long life expectancy is a good sign for us!

After living here a while I'm sure you've probably already noticed the signs of a society that takes health seriously, with things like balanced meals, active seniors (I've been beaten by 60+ year olds on hikes regularly), and a healthcare system that doesn't break the bank and is accessible. The Ministry of Health recently released new data confirming something many of us were already aware of, that Japan is one of the healthiest places on Earth to grow old.

In 2024, Japanese women once again topped global life expectancy charts, living an average of 87.13 years. I think the real incredible part about it, though, is that this marked 40 straight years for Japan's women at number one. Japanese men also ranked highly, with an average lifespan of 81.09 years, putting them in sixth place globally.

So why does this matter to those of us who aren't Japanese citizens?

For starters, I think it's a great reflection on the strength of Japan's healthcare infrastructure, which expats living here can also access. Medical care tends to be high quality and reasonably priced compared to many other countries, and preventative care is taken seriously (e.g. the comprehensive ningen dock).

It also speaks to the lifestyle here, from things like walkable cities and healthy food options to low crime rates and strong social services. I think for the most part, life in Japan supports overall wellbeing, and as an expat, simply living here can help you adopt habits that lead to a longer and healthier life.

Article:  https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250725/p2g/00m/0na/073000c