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The Hidden Health Advantages of Moving Abroad
Explore the countries where lifestyle meets longevity—and why it works.
Philip Saparov
November 23, 2025
In partnership with
Greetings, sharp-eyed seeker of health and advantage,
Chronic illness is quietly redrawing the map of the modern world. It’s not just about hospitals — it’s about where you’ll live longer, feel better, and protect those you love.
This edition unpacks the global rise (and fall) of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease — and how these trends could shape your next big decision.
Let’s dive into the data that’s reshaping destinies.
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The traditional narrative has long pointed to the U.S. as the global capital of obesity — and while still true, the geography is shifting.
🔵 United States: With an obesity rate over 42%, the U.S. remains at the forefront of the crisis. But more troubling is the rise in childhood obesity, now affecting 1 in 5 kids — a generational warning sign.
🟠 Mexico: Just south of the border, obesity has surged to 30% among adults. Sugary drink consumption plays a big role — Mexico is one of the world’s largest consumers of soda per capita.
🔴 Turkey: A perhaps surprising entrant, Turkey now has the highest obesity rate in Europe (nearly 33%). Urbanization and fast food are accelerating the issue faster than public health policies can keep up.
🧠 Did you know? Obesity-related diseases account for nearly 70% of all healthcare spending in high-income countries. This shapes not just health outcomes, but national budgets and taxpayer priorities.
Diabetes — especially Type 2 — is tightly linked to lifestyle and environment. Its rise is accelerating globally, but some nations are experiencing particularly sharp increases.
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia has one of the highest diabetes rates in the world, with over 17% of adults affected. Sedentary lifestyles and dietary shifts post-oil boom have made it a national crisis.
🇮🇳 India now ranks second globally in diabetes cases, with over 77 million adults affected. Urban migration and processed food consumption are key drivers — with major implications for a strained healthcare system.
🇺🇸 United States: Here too, the numbers are staggering — over 37 million people live with diabetes, a full 11% of the population. Minority communities are especially vulnerable due to disparities in access and prevention.
📊 Eye-opener: According to WHO, the global cost of diabetes in lost productivity and treatment is over $825 billion annually.
Heart disease remains the world’s top killer, but its geography has evolved. While many high-income nations are lowering death rates, others are just entering the crisis stage.
🇯🇵 Japan maintains one of the world’s lowest heart disease mortality rates, thanks to a diet rich in fish, vegetables, and portion control — plus an ingrained culture of movement.
🇺🇸 United States: Here, heart disease is still the leading cause of death, with over 695,000 deaths per year. Yet, rates are slowly improving thanks to prevention campaigns and statin use.
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan and several Central Asian nations have seen rising rates — tied to tobacco, alcohol, and the rapid adoption of Western diets amid economic growth.
💡 Fascinating fact: Mediterranean countries with olive oil–rich diets have up to 30% lower rates of heart-related death compared to Northern Europe.
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Life expectancy is a reflection of chronic illness management — and some countries are defying the odds.
🇲🇨 Monaco leads the world in longevity with an average life expectancy of over 89 years. Beyond healthcare access, wealth concentration and Mediterranean lifestyle play key roles.
🇸🇬 Singapore’s highly efficient healthcare system, aggressive screening programs, and public health incentives have pushed its life expectancy to 85 years — despite a dense urban setting.
🇨🇭 Switzerland balances public and private healthcare, clean environments, and strong economic indicators to land in the global top tier.
🧬 Unusual insight: Access to preventive care alone accounts for up to 40% of the difference in life expectancy between rich and poor countries — more than genetics.
Some nations are bucking the trend and reversing chronic illness patterns — and their playbooks are worth noting.
🇨🇱 Chile implemented one of the world’s strongest front-of-package warning label systems on food. As a result, consumption of sugary drinks dropped by over 20% in just one year.
🇫🇷 France has managed to keep obesity relatively low (around 17%) through a combination of food culture, school lunches, and daily physical activity — despite high bread and cheese consumption.
🇰🇷 South Korea is increasingly investing in tech-driven public health, using wearables, AI-driven diet tracking, and mobile clinics to monitor citizens’ risk factors.
📉 Health policy milestone: Chile’s warning label law is now being adopted by other nations across Latin America — a new model for fast-impact reform.
While some countries make strides, others are facing a surge in chronic illness under the radar.
🇪🇬 Egypt has one of the fastest-growing rates of diabetes in the world, expected to hit 13 million cases by 2030. A growing youth population is at risk due to processed foods and low activity levels.
🇵🇭 Philippines: Rapid urbanization, sedentary jobs, and fast-food culture are fueling a rise in obesity and related diseases — but public health campaigns remain underfunded.
🇿🇦 South Africa faces a triple burden: rising chronic illness alongside infectious diseases like HIV. Obesity in women has reached 41% — among the highest globally.
📊 Global wake-up: The number of adults living with obesity worldwide has tripled since 1975 — a trend now accelerating in low- and middle-income countries.
So how does this global health map affect your decisions?
🏡 Relocation: For retirees or digital nomads, consider nations with longer life expectancies, lower obesity rates, and strong preventive care — like Japan, Singapore, or Portugal.
💰 Investment: As chronic illness reshapes global priorities, the demand for healthcare innovation — from diagnostics to healthy foods — is skyrocketing. The wellness economy is projected to hit $7 trillion by 2025.
🧠 Lifestyle: Regardless of location, individual actions matter. Countries that succeed in fighting chronic illness do so through systems, yes — but also habits: walking culture, nutrient-rich meals, and regular checkups.
🚀 Future signal: In the next decade, AI-driven personalized health is expected to reduce chronic illness risks by up to 30% through early detection and tailored plans.
Chronic illness isn’t just a health issue — it’s a force quietly shaping where people live, work, and thrive.
Knowing where the risks rise — and where they fall — helps you plan smarter: for your health, your family, and your future.
Stay sharp. Stay mobile. Let the data lead.
Warm regards,
Shane Fulmer
Founder, WorldPopulationReview.com
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