Spain leads life expectancy in the European Union, reaching an overall average of 84.0 years, closely followed by Italy and Sweden (84.1 years) and exceeding the EU average of 81.7 years.
Comparison in Europe
- European leaders: Spain stands out, along with Italy and Sweden, at the top of longevity on the continent.
- European Union average: The general average of EU countries stands at 81.7 years, three years less than the Spanish level.
- Countries with the lowest average: The lowest records in Europe are in the east, such as Bulgaria (75.9 years) and Romania (76.6 years).
Gender Differences in Spain
- Women: They have an average age of 86.7 years, ranking among the highest in the world.
- Men: They register an average of 81.3 years.
The high life expectancy in Spain is not due to a single reason, but to a combination of socio-cultural, health and environmental factors. The consensus of experts and medical institutions points to the following fundamental pillars:
1. Universal and Preventive Health System
- Free access: The public health model guarantees medical care to the entire population regardless of their economic resources.
- Focus on prevention: The primary care network stands out for carrying out continuous monitoring that detects serious diseases early.
- Low avoidable mortality: Spain has very low rates of deaths from cardiovascular diseases or treatable infections compared to the European average.
2. Food and the Mediterranean Diet
- Quality nutrients: Regular consumption of olive oil, fresh fish, legumes, and vegetables provides healthy fats and antioxidants.
- Gastronomic culture: Fresh products are prioritized over ultra-processed ones.
- Social rhythm: The habit of eating seated and sharing the table significantly reduces daily stress levels.
3. Social Cohesion and Family Support
- Less insulation: Older people in Spain tend to maintain an active social life in their communities.
- Family Safety Network: Only 23% of those over 65 live alone, compared to the average of 32% in the rest of Europe. This mitigates loneliness and ensures direct care.
4. Urban Environment and Climate
- Walkable cities: The design of Spanish municipalities encourages walking and daily moderate physical exercise.
- Outdoor Living: Hours of sunshine and a predominantly temperate climate favor socialization in public spaces and the absorption of vitamin D.
The influence of the residential environment on physical and mental health is widely supported by medical science, epidemiology, and urbanism through the scientific concept of the urban exposome. Multiple international macro-studies show that the postal code is more decisive for health and life expectancy than the genetic code itself.
1. The Impact of Green Spaces: The 3-30-300 Rule
The Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) has led massive research in more than 1,000 European cities. Their results conclude that the lack of green spaces causes up to 43,000 premature deaths per year in Europe.
To combat it, the scientific community supports the 3-30-300 rule:
- 3 trees: Seeing at least three specimens from home windows drastically reduces the use of antidepressants.
- 30% tree mass: Living in a neighbourhood with this vegetation cover reduces the risk of obesity, heart disease and delays physical decline.
- 300 meters: Not residing more than this distance from a park reduces cortisol (the stress hormone) and improves cognitive development.
2. Walkable Cities Against Chronic Diseases
The massive Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study, coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), shows that more than 57% of the years lived in poor health are due to preventable chronic pathologies (such as musculoskeletal pain, diabetes or cardiovascular problems).
Environments that favour “walkability” (as in the Spanish urban model) directly counteract these factors. Forcing the body to perform moderate physical exercise daily simply to go shopping, study or work drastically reduces Body Mass Index (BMI) and blood glucose levels.
3. The “Heat Island” Effect and Housing
The quality of the urban environment also determines climate resilience. Research published in prestigious journals such as The Lancet indicates that street design directly affects mortality during the summer.
Excessive asphalt and the scarcity of vegetation cause the urban heat island effect, which is responsible for almost 5% of premature summer deaths, directly affecting the cardiovascular health of the elderly population.
4. Noise Pollution and Sleep Quality
Studies framed in the European EXPANSE project analyse the impact of living exposed to the constant noise of road traffic. Residential noise pollution chronically alters sleep cycles, which raises blood pressure in a sustained way and multiplies the risk of myocardial infarctions and strokes in the medium term.
Alicante has been chosen as one of the best cities to live in
Alicante has been consolidated in the top positions in the world of the prestigious international ranking Expat City Ranking by InterNations due to its excellent balance between affordable housing, ease of integration and an optimal environment for physical and mental health.
The key factors justifying their choice align directly with scientific studies on the impact of the environment on quality of life.
1. Climate and Daylight Hours
- Sun exposure: Alicante registers more than 3,000 hours of sunshine and 320 clear days a year, being the Spanish city with the longest period of natural light.
- Biological impact: This temperate climate (with an annual average of 20 °C) encourages the production of vitamin D, regulates the circadian rhythm and mitigates seasonal affective disorders associated with cold.
2. “Walkable” Urbanism and Integrated Beaches
- Involuntary exercise: Being a medium-sized city, it allows you to cross a large part of its districts on foot or by sustainable transport.
- Accessible natural environments: It has integrated urban beaches (such as Playa de San Juan or Postiguet) and promenades that drastically reduce chronic cortisol levels.
3. Ease of Feeling at Home
- Leader in reception: The InterNations report positions Alicante in first place in the world in culture and welcome.
- Community and integration: 84% of new residents say they feel integrated from the first day, reducing the pathologies associated with social isolation.
4. High Quality Healthcare and Clean Air
- Robust infrastructure: It has an extensive network of health centres, public reference hospitals and private clinics that are well valued by 80% of its foreign inhabitants. [1, 2]
- Low pollution: Its opening to the sea favours a constant renewal of air masses, keeping atmospheric pollution to a minimum. [1, 2]
5. Cost of Living and Competitive Housing
- Balanced finances: Although prices have risen globally, the city stands out in international indices for offering much more affordable housing and living costs than large cities such as Madrid, Barcelona or the capitals of northern Europe.
The Mediterranean diet and 320 days of sunshine are reasons for greater longevity.
The combination of a healthy diet and the synthesis of vitamin D through the sun acts as a biological shield that slows down cellular aging and prevents the main causes of mortality in the world.
Medical science shows that both factors not only add years to life, but also guarantee that those years are lived with greater functional capacity.
1. The Sun and Vitamin D: The Longevity “Switch”
Vitamin D is not just a vitamin, but a neurohormone that regulates more than 1,000 different genes in our body. Its impact on longevity is based on three critical mechanisms:
- Maintenance of telomeres: Various genetic studies associate optimal vitamin D levels with longer telomeres (the ends of chromosomes that measure the biological age of cells). Preserved telomeres delay the aging of the body.
- Reduction of all-cause mortality: Meta-analyses published in prestigious medical journals confirm that people with chronic vitamin D deficiency have a significantly higher risk of heart attacks, strokes and certain types of cancer (such as colon or breast cancer).
- Prevention of bone fragility: By allowing calcium to be absorbed, it prevents osteoporosis and hip fractures in the elderly, a clinical event that usually marks the beginning of severe physical decline in the elderly.
2. Anti-Aging Diet: Fighting Inflammation
As we age, the body enters a state known in the scientific community as inflammaging (chronic age-related low-grade inflammation). A diet based on the Mediterranean Diet – the one enjoyed by cities such as Alicante – combats this process directly:
- Endothelium (artery) protection: The consumption of healthy fats (such as oleic acid from extra virgin olive oil and Omega-3 fatty acids from oily fish) keeps the arteries elastic and clean, preventing atherosclerosis.
- Antioxidant power: Green leafy vegetables, nuts, and seasonal fruits provide polyphenols. These compounds neutralize free radicals, preventing oxidative stress that damages the body’s tissues.
- Healthy microbiota: Fiber from legumes and whole grains feeds beneficial gut bacteria. A healthy microbiota strengthens the immune system and improves brain health through the gut-brain axis.
The key to longevity in sunny places with good gastronomy lies in the fact that both factors enhance each other. For example, in order for the body to properly absorb and synthesize the vitamin D generated by the skin thanks to the sun, healthy fats are needed in the diet, since it is a fat-soluble vitamin (it dissolves in fat).
The Mediterranean Diet is considered by the international scientific community as one of the most determining pillars of longevity and high life expectancy in Spain.
Multiple world-renowned medical studies show that this eating pattern directly prevents the diseases that shorten life the most.
The Scientific Evidence to Back It Up
The Mediterranean Diet is not a theory; It is supported by the largest nutrition studies ever conducted:
- The PREDIMED Study (Prevention with Mediterranean Diet): Led in Spain, it showed that following this diet reduces the risk of suffering a myocardial infarction, stroke or dying from cardiovascular causes by 30% compared to a low-fat diet.
- The Blue Zone Study: National Geographic research identified the regions of the planet where people are usually over 100 years old (such as Sardinia in Italy or Ikaria in Greece). All of them share the same Mediterranean food principles: plant-based, healthy fats and ultra-processed zeros.
Why does it extend life? Its Key Components
The secret to its success lies in how its ingredients protect our body at the cellular level:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO): Considered the “liquid gold”, it contains polyphenols and oleic acid. It lowers LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, increases HDL (“good”) cholesterol, and prevents clogged arteries (atherosclerosis).
- Plant-based foods and fiber: The daily consumption of legumes, vegetables, fruits and nuts keeps the intestinal microbiota healthy. A balanced microbiota strengthens the immune system and slows down the chronic inflammation of aging.
- Fish on red meat: Prioritise oily fish (sardines, anchovies, tuna), rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. These acids protect the heart, lower blood pressure, and act as powerful natural anti-inflammatories.
- Water and wine in moderation: The main hydration is based on water, displacing sugary soft drinks that cause diabetes and obesity.
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