Analytics, Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Pensioners, Society

In 2011, the number of years a 65-year-old woman in Estonia had left to live was 20 and that for men it was around 15, which is by one and three years less than EU average (21 and 18 years respectively), revealed a European Health and Life Expectancy Information System survey.

While 65-year-old Estonian women can expect a bit less than six years of upcoming life without health-related activity limitations, the European average is nine years. Estonian men of the same age can expect to live without health-related activity limitation less than six years while the EU average is a bit less than 9 years.

The average life expectancy has risen steadily in Estonia since 1994. This shows an improvement in the health status of the population, but unfortunately positive changes have not taken place equally in all population groups. The difference between life expectancy of women and men is nine years for Estonians and 11 years for non-Estonians.

The Estonian and non-Estonian women's life expectancy is nearly 82 and 80 years respectively, while for men it is over 72 and 68 years. While the average life expectancy for women differs by two years, the difference for healthy life years is higher – five years. Estonian men live healthy lives for two years longer than non-Estonian men.