Healthy life years at birth indicate how long people can expect to live in good health. Eurostat’s 2023 figures show an EU average of 63.1 years, with 63.3 years for women and 62.8 years for men. Set against life expectancy at birth of 84.0 years for women and 78.7 years for men, healthy life years represent 75% of total female life expectancy and 80% of total male life expectancy. Men therefore spend a greater share of their lives free from activity limitations, while women spend more years healthy in absolute terms. These figures offer a baseline for comparing differences across countries and between sexes.
EU Snapshot and Shares of Life Expectancy
At EU level, the sex split in healthy life years is small, with women slightly ahead of men. The picture shifts when healthy life years are measured as a share of total life expectancy, with men showing a higher proportion despite having fewer years overall. This contrast highlights the need to look at both absolute years and relative shares. It also sets the frame for country results, where the relationship between totals and gaps varies significantly.
Some countries follow the EU pattern with women living more healthy years but with a smaller share of their life expectancy spent free of limitations. Others invert this relationship, with men either matching or surpassing women in absolute healthy years. The data show that both patterns are visible across the region.
Country Groupings and Extremes
Results across countries spread widely around the EU average. At the upper end are a handful of countries reaching the high 60s and above, with Malta standing out. A broad central group sits close to the EU figure, including many of the larger health systems. Below the average, several countries fall into the high 50s, while Latvia marks the lowest value.
When looking at men and women separately, similar contrasts appear. Men record their highest values in Malta, Italy and Sweden, while the lowest are in Latvia, Estonia and Slovakia. Women also record their highest figures in Malta, Bulgaria and Italy, with the lowest in Latvia, Denmark and Finland. The same countries often appear at both ends of the distribution depending on sex, reinforcing the consistency of the broad pattern.
Direction and Size of Sex Gaps
Across the EU in 2023, only nine countries report men with more healthy life years than women. Most others show a female lead, though the size of the gap varies. In some countries women are ahead by several years, while in others the difference is barely perceptible. Cases where men come out ahead include Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden, while Latvia and Lithuania show some of the widest female advantages.
Many countries lie close to parity, with differences of less than a year between men and women. These small margins mean that overall placement relative to the EU average often matters more than the sex split itself. The variation across the region shows that while the EU average points to a slight female lead, local results can differ in both direction and magnitude.
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Eurostat’s 2023 figures reveal wide variation in healthy life years at birth across the EU. The average sits at 63.1 years, with women slightly ahead in absolute terms but men enjoying a higher share of their shorter lives in good health. Country comparisons show high performers such as Malta and Italy, a broad middle group close to the EU average and lower results in Latvia, Denmark and Finland. Most countries feature a female advantage, but some present male leads or near parity. These contrasts provide healthcare professionals and decision-makers with a clear reference point for comparing outcomes across Europe in a single indicator.
Source: Eurostat
Image Credit: iStock
