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Where You Live Could Cost You 10 Years of Life
The data-driven guide to the places, habits, and systems that extend life.
Philip Saparov
October 31, 2025
In partnership with
Greetings, seeker of a longer, better life!
What if your address could add—or take away—10 years from your life? This issue uncovers why some places live longer—and how you can, too.
From hidden hazards to life-extending habits, discover what separates the longest-living regions from the rest. The answers may surprise you—and they may just extend your future.
Let’s dive in.
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Life expectancy isn’t just a measure of health—it’s a proxy for policy, culture, and economic balance. And in this global race, the leaders might surprise you.
🇯🇵 Japan consistently tops the charts, with citizens living an average of 84.8 years. The secret? A culture of portion control, lifelong movement, and strong social ties—especially among elders.
🇨🇭 Switzerland, with a life expectancy of 83.9 years, blends excellent healthcare with an outdoorsy, low-stress lifestyle. Its high GDP supports access to top-tier medical care, but its social cohesion and trust in institutions matter just as much.
🇸🇬 Singapore is proof that urban density doesn’t have to shorten life. With a tightly regulated healthcare system and aggressive disease prevention, Singaporeans average 83.6 years.
🔍 Surprising stat: A child born in Monaco today can expect to live over 89 years—the highest life expectancy on Earth.
Coined by researchers, Blue Zones are pockets where people routinely live past 100. But these places aren’t defined by miracle drugs or cutting-edge tech—they’re marked by simple, time-tested behaviors.
🇮🇹 In Sardinia, the men are among the longest-lived in the world. Daily walking, strong wine (in moderation), and tight family bonds play a role.
🇯🇵 In Okinawa, the phrase “ikigai”—your reason for waking up—shapes everything. Women here often live past 90, surrounded by lifelong friendship circles called moai.
🇨🇷 In Nicoya, Costa Rica, residents follow a “plan de vida” (life plan) rooted in purpose and community. Most live off a plant-based diet grown from local soil.
🔎 One common thread: purpose + movement + belonging—a formula more powerful than any supplement.
Despite its technological might, the U.S. trails behind many wealthy nations in life expectancy—ranking around 40th globally. What’s dragging it down?
🩺 Many Americans delay treatment—or skip it altogether. The U.S. spends more on healthcare per person than any other country, yet outcomes lag behind.
🍔 Obesity and chronic disease play a major role, with heart disease and diabetes still among the top killers.
🚫 Social fragmentation—rising loneliness, mental health crises, and limited support for the elderly—has quietly chipped away at American longevity.
🔍 In Mississippi, average life expectancy is a full decade shorter than in Hawaii—the widest state-level gap in the U.S.
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Not all health threats are visible. Environmental quality may be the most underestimated driver of longevity.
🌫️ Air pollution cuts short millions of lives each year. In India and parts of Southeast Asia, it shaves up to 6.9 years off average lifespans, according to recent studies.
💧 Contaminated water still plagues large parts of Africa and rural Asia, where waterborne diseases significantly reduce life expectancy—especially in children.
🧪 Soil toxins, from pesticides to heavy metals, seep into food chains, contributing to long-term health risks even in developed nations.
🔍 Tiny tweak, big gain: A recent Lancet study found that simply reducing PM2.5 air pollution to WHO guidelines could add 2.2 years to global average life expectancy.
Nutrition is a longevity cornerstone—but not all “healthy diets” are created equal. Global cuisine holds some powerful clues.
🍠 In Okinawa, sweet potatoes—not rice—are the staple, alongside tofu and seaweed.
🥗 The Mediterranean diet—rich in olive oil, nuts, fish, and fresh vegetables—is linked to lower rates of heart disease and cognitive decline. Greece, Spain, and Italy all reap its benefits.
🫘 Japan’s fermented soybean dish natto may smell funky, but it's high in Vitamin K2—shown to protect against arterial calcification.
🔍 A Harvard study found that replacing just 3% of daily calories from animal protein with plant protein reduced the risk of death by 10%.
Healthcare access and affordability often determine not just how long you live—but how well you live those later years.
🇳🇴 Norway offers universal healthcare with an emphasis on early intervention and preventive care. Life expectancy: 83 years.
🇨🇳 China has made dramatic gains, increasing life expectancy by nearly 9 years in the past three decades through public health campaigns and rural care improvements.
🇨🇺 Cuba, despite limited resources, punches above its weight in longevity thanks to robust primary care and a doctor-to-citizen ratio among the highest in the world.
🔍 Cuba has more doctors per capita than the U.S.—a result of prioritizing prevention over profit.
Even in high-income countries, your zip code can predict your lifespan more accurately than your genetic code.
🏙️ In the U.S., a child born in San Francisco can expect to live over 12 years longer than one born in St. Louis.
🧭 In the UK, people living in more affluent London boroughs like Kensington live almost 9 years longer than residents of poorer regions like Blackpool.
🧗♂️ In Chile, residents of Santiago’s wealthier east enjoy longer, healthier lives than those just miles away in working-class districts.
🔍 The U.S. city with the shortest life expectancy? Gary, Indiana—where the average lifespan is just 70.2 years.
Longevity isn’t luck—it’s design.
Where you live, what you eat, how you connect—it all adds up. As the data shows, longer lives aren’t just found in rich countries, but in places with purpose, clean air, strong ties, and smart systems.
The best part? Many of these factors are in your hands.
Stay curious. Stay strategic. Add years to your life—and life to your years.
Warm regards,
Shane Fulmer
Founder, WorldPopulationReview.com
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