Life expectancy in the Canary Islands among the lowest in Spain
The Canary Islands has the second-lowest life expectancy in Spain, according to new figures published by Funcas, the Foundation of Savings Banks. The average life span in the archipelago stands at 82.8 years, just ahead of Andalucía at 82.7, and more than a full year below the national average of 84 years.
The gap widens even further when compared to the region with the highest life expectancy, Madrid, where residents live on average 86.1 years.
Spain as a whole continues to lead the European Union, with an average life expectancy of 84 years in 2023. This places the country more than three years above the EU average of 81.7, and ahead of Italy, Sweden, and France.
Funcas noted that Spain’s lead is even more striking at a regional level: Madrid ranks first among all EU regions, while Navarra and Castilla y León also feature in the European top ten.
In fact, 15 regions of Spain are ranked among the 50 longest-living areas in Europe, out of the 242 studied. Only the Canary Islands, Andalucía, and the Spanish territories of Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa fall outside this group. Ceuta recorded the lowest life expectancy at 81.3 years, with Melilla slightly higher at 81.6.
The findings just go to show the challenge faced by the Canary Islands, which, despite its mild climate and Mediterranean diet, continues to lag behind most of Spain in terms of longevity. Public health experts point to a mix of social, economic, and lifestyle factors as possible reasons behind the shorter life span of Canarian residents compared to the rest of the country.
The Canary Islands’ average of 82.8 years is slightly higher than the UK, where life expectancy currently stands at around 81 years.
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