In France, life expectancy is increasing steadily. However, according to the DREES, these additional years of life are not all necessarily lived “ healthy “. Indeed, we are seeing an increase in life expectancy; however, incapacity due to professional activities or personal is not taken into account (source 1).
In 2023, at 65 ansmen can hope to live 10.5 years without disabilitywhile women can live 12 ans moreover. Since 2008, disability-free life expectancy at age 65 has increased steadily. Women earn on average 1 year and 11 monthsand men, on average, 1 year and 10 months.
It was during the pandemic linked to Covid-19 that disability-free life expectancies at age 65 have seen significant changes. In its study, the DREES demonstrates that in 2020 data remained stablebut that they have strongly increased in 2021 before falling, just as sharply, during the year 2022. This drop made it possible to return to a level close to that before the pandemic.
In 2021, among 27 European Union countries, France was the 5th country for disability-free life expectancy for women at age 65. These analyzes demonstrate an average difference of 2 years and 6 months compared to the European average. Likewise for men, France reached 7th place, but with a smaller gap, which is located at 1 year and 4 months.
Disabilities in life expectancy are linked to several health factors, whether social or medical. They have an impact on premature mortality. An INSEE study (source 2) demonstrates the mortality conditions from 2020 to 2022 and notes that male executives aged 35 live on average 5,3 ans more than the workers. A smaller gap is also noted among female executives, who live longer than workers (3,4 ans). Several factors are involved. First of all, workers carry out professions that are, by nature, more risky than those of managers. The latter are advantaged by their standard of living, since they can afford to consult more doctors and specialists.
Furthermore, excessive consumption ofalcoholsmoking or evenobesity are more significant among less advantaged social classes.
