It is not all about money. Despite Spain’s economic problems, the country is the healthiest in Europe to live in, and perhaps in the whole world. So writes the medical journal The Lancet.
Congratulations on choosing to live in Spain. You can count on 70.9 healthy years and a life expectancy of 81.4 years. Behind the result presented in The Lancet, based on a compiled European League Table with data over a 20-year period, Spain is the healthiest place to live in Europe. The country also places ahead of many other countries around the world.
The country is ranked number one for life expectancy, at an average of 81.4 years, which is two years longer than people living in the United Kingdom. The number of years in Spain in which people are judged to be in good health is also higher, 70.9 years compared with 68.6 years in the UK. The British themselves end up far down the list, in 12th place behind Greece, Ireland and Germany. And the USA comes in 17th.
The Lancet attributes Spain’s top position to a combination of several factors: a healthy diet (the Mediterranean diet), the pleasant climate and more walking.
The fact that Spanish families take care of their sick relatives is probably also an important factor, with relatives bringing wholesome food to family members who are in hospital.
After Spain come Italy, Australia, Sweden, Canada and France.
06/05/2016 Svenska Magasinet