Health · Medical Research · 2 hrs ago
Swiss life expectancy rises slowly as gap between married and single people widens
New Swiss data show life expectancy is still rising, but more slowly than before.
The figures cover 2018 to 2023 and put average life expectancy at birth at 81.6 years for men and 85.5 for women.
The increase over 2010 to 2020 was the smallest recorded in a decade since Switzerland began compiling these tables in the late 19th century.
COVID-19 reduced life expectancy by 0.4 years for men and 0.3 for women, while falling deaths from heart disease and cancer helped push it upward.
Women still live longer than men, but the gap has narrowed from as much as seven years around 1990 to 3.8 years.
At age 65, married men can expect 4.4 more years than single men, and married women 3.7 more years than single women.
The figures also show that life expectancy varies between Swiss cantons, with differences by birth of up to 3.2 years for men and 2.3 years for women.
Swiss life expectancy continues to rise, but at its slowest pace since national records began.
People born in 2018–2023 are expected to live an average of 81.6 years for men and 85.5 years for women.
At age 65, married men can expect 4.4 more years of life than single men, while married women can expect 3.7 more years than single women.
The COVID-19 pandemic reduced life expectancy by 0.4 years for men and 0.3 years for women.
Declining cardiovascular disease mortality remains the main driver of rising life expectancy.
- Who
- People in Switzerland, with figures reported for men and women and comparisons between married and single people.
- What
- Life expectancy is rising slowly, while the gap between married and single people is widening.
- When
- The life expectancy figures cover 2018–2023; decade changes are compared for 2010–2020.
- Where
- Switzerland.
- Why
- Declining cardiovascular disease mortality is the main driver of the increase. The COVID-19 pandemic slowed it.
Married people
Single people
Life expectancy at age 65
Married people
Married men can expect 20.8 more years and married women 24.1.
Single people
Single men can expect 16.4 more years and single women 20.4.
Change among women since 2010
Married people
Not stated for married women.
Single people
Single women’s life expectancy at age 65 fell by 0.3 years.
Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office began compiling life tables.
Life expectancy rose by 2.9 years for men and 1.7 years for women.
Life expectancy rose by 1.5 years for men and 1.0 year for women, the smallest decade increase on record.
The life tables put life expectancy at birth at 81.6 years for men and 85.5 years for women.
- Life expectancy at birth, men
- 81.6 years (2018–2023)
- Life expectancy at birth, women
- 85.5 years (2018–2023)
- Married men at 65
- 20.8 further years
- Single men at 65
- 16.4 further years
- Married women at 65
- 24.1 further years
- Single women at 65
- 20.4 further years
Sources
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