A new analysis of WHO data by Compare the Market AU finds Australia just misses out on a top 10 placement in the Active Vitality Index, which scores countries based on average life expectancy, average healthy life expectancy, and physical activity levels among the population.
Australia placed a respectable 13th, just behind Ireland but ahead of Austria and the United Kingdom. Australia had one of the longest life expectancies in the world, with the fifth-longest average lifespan out of the 185 countries analysed at 83.10 years.
Australia’s average healthy life expectancy (the number of years in good health) was also high at 70.13 years, the 12th-highest out of 185 other countries
However, what really held Australia back was the physical activity levels among the populace. Australia had 27.96% of the adult population that didn’t meet the recommended time spent exercising, and there were 102 countries that had higher activity levels among their populations than Australia.
New Zealand was ranked ahead of Australia in eighth place because the country had a lower percentage of adults who were insufficiently active.
The top scores were dominated by Europe. Of the top 10 rankings, only three were non-European nations, including Singapore, New Zealand, and Bhutan.
The analysis revealed a trend where the most physically active populations had the lowest life expectancy, and likewise, most (but not all) countries with the highest life expectancy had quite large populations that were not meeting physical activity recommendations.
| Ranking | Country | Life expectancy (years) | Healthy life expectancy (years) | Percentage of insufficiently active adults | INDEX SCORE |
| 1 | Sweden | 82.66 | 71.03 | 10.73% | 9.56 |
| 2 | The Netherlands | 81.12 | 69.94 | 11.43% | 9.06 |
| Luxembourg | 82.78 | 70.77 | 15.47% | ||
| 3 | Finland | 81.53 | 68.84 | 12.01% | 8.93 |
| 4 | Denmark | 81.18 | 69.73 | 14.48% | 8.80 |
| 5 | Switzerland | 83.33 | 70.91 | 21.92% | 8.53 |
| 6 | Germany | 80.49 | 68.43 | 15.02% | 8.46 |
| 7 | Singapore | 83.86 | 72.37 | 24.60% | 8.44 |
| 8 | New Zealand | 82.20 | 69.6 | 20.74% | 8.26 |
| 9 | Spain | 82.66 | 70.33 | 25.31% | 8.12 |
| 10 | Bhutan | 74.88 | 64.59 | 9.11% | 8.01 |
| 11 | Iceland | 82.58 | 71.3 | 27.72% | 7.99 |
| 12 | Ireland | 81.60 | 69.81 | 23.91% | 7.95 |
| 13 | Australia | 83.10 | 70.13 | 27.96% | 7.88 |
| 14 | Austria | 80.99 | 69.05 | 22.90% | 7.83 |
| 15 | United Kingdom | 80.10 | 68.24 | 21.90% | 7.77 |
| 16 | Slovenia | 80.41 | 67.88 | 22.71% | 7.70 |
| 17 | France | 81.92 | 69.14 | 27.10% | 7.68 |
| Israel | 81.74 | 70.08 | 27.90% | ||
| 18 | China | 77.62 | 67.21 | 23.30% | 7.46 |
| 19 | Belgium | 81.51 | 69.28 | 28.83% | 7.34 |
| 20 | Estonia | 77.13 | 64.13 | 19.50% | 7.28 |
For the full list of 185 nations, click here.
Speaking to the results, Compare the Market AU’s Executive General Manager of Health Insurance, Steven Spicer, notes that high-level healthcare is important for a longer life.
“Plenty of countries with long average lifespans had large populations that didn’t necessarily meet recommended activity guidelines. What was usually common across these countries was that they had higher-quality healthcare available,” Mr Spicer said.
“Australia has some of the best healthcare in the world, with a public and private health system. Some may assume that if they already have a health condition, or are older, or have a family history, they may pay more for their health cover because they could be a ‘higher risk’, but that’s not how it works.
“Health insurance in Australia is community-rated, not risk-rated. This means that you don’t pay a higher base premium if you are living an unhealthy lifestyle or have more health issues than another customer living in the same state. Things like age, health, and gender are not directly going to affect the base cost of your health insurance. Your age may play a role however in determining any rebates, loadings and discounts that you are eligible for, as will your income threshold.
“There are other things that impact the cost of your insurance, and you might have longer waiting periods, but there are many benefits to private health insurance. It can help you avoid the public waiting list by being treated in a private hospital, so you can typically get seen to sooner, helping you take charge of your health sooner. Additionally, some health insurance policies can pay a benefit towards the cost of gym memberships when they form part of a health management plan, as well as physiotherapy and other similar appointments to help you stay fit and exercise.”
To learn more about the data, visit: https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/health-insurance/features/active-vitality-index/
For interviews and more information, please contact:
James McCay | +61 450 930 374 | [email protected]
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