Life expectancy in Switzerland reaches record high

Life expectancy reached a record high in Switzerland in 2023, Unisanté estimates. It would have reached 85.8 years for women and 82.2 years for men.

The historical upward trend, but lost since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, seems to have been found again, the University Center for General Medicine and Public Health in Lausanne (Unisanté) said on Tuesday.

In 2019, the previous record year, life expectancy for women was 85.6 years and 81.9 years for men. It then fell with the arrival of Covid in 2020 (85.1 and 81 years), before remaining below the record in 2021 and 2022.

Based on data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Unisanté emphasizes that the first half of 2023 proved to be “very favorable” in terms of mortality, “due to the absence of significant flu or Covid-19 episodes.” Although a wave of mortality was observed at the end of the year, it did not reverse the trend.

Indicators to follow

Last year and per million inhabitants, approximately 7,900 deaths among women (8,100 in 2019) and 7,400 (7,700) among men were counted. For the entire Swiss population, this represents a decrease of approximately 250 deaths for the year per million inhabitants, Unisanté emphasizes.

It remains to be seen whether this upward trend will continue or whether the life expectancy curve will flatten or even slow down, as is the case in other countries, notes Unisanté.

The Lausanne centre adds that it will also be necessary to “closely monitor” the evolution of life expectancy in good health. This other indicator “essential and linked to societal and public health issues” was slightly on the rise in 2022 according to the OFS.

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