Data / Rankings / Life expectancy at birth / EU countries

EU countries by life expectancy

Spain had the highest life expectancy of 27 EU countries in 2016, at 83.1 years. Bulgaria had the lowest, at 74.7 years. The median was 81 years and the figure for the European Union (27) was 80.7 years. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.

Highest83.1Spain
Lowest74.7Bulgaria
Median8127 EU countries
European Union (27)80.7History

All EU countries, 2016

CSVChart (SVG)

SpainSpain: 83.1 years83.1ItalyItaly: 83 years83CyprusCyprus: 82.8 years82.8FranceFrance: 82.4 years82.4LuxembourgLuxembourg: 82.3 years82.3SwedenSweden: 82.3 years82.3MaltaMalta: 82.1 years82.1AustriaAustria: 81.6 years81.6IrelandIreland: 81.6 years81.6NetherlandsNetherlands: 81.5 years81.5PortugalPortugal: 81.4 years81.4BelgiumBelgium: 81.3 years81.3FinlandFinland: 81.3 years81.3GreeceGreece: 81 years81SloveniaSlovenia: 81 years81DenmarkDenmark: 80.9 years80.9GermanyGermany: 80.9 years80.9CzechiaCzechia: 79 years79CroatiaCroatia: 78 years78EstoniaEstonia: 77.8 years77.8PolandPoland: 77.8 years77.8SlovakiaSlovakia: 77.3 years77.3HungaryHungary: 76.1 years76.1RomaniaRomania: 75.2 years75.2LatviaLatvia: 74.8 years74.8LithuaniaLithuania: 74.8 years74.8BulgariaBulgaria: 74.7 years74.7
years. Source: Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-10-07.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2016
years		Change on 2015
1Spain83.1+0.4
2Italy83+0.6
3Cyprus82.8+0.9
4France82.4+0.3
5Luxembourg Series break82.3+0.3
5Sweden82.3+0.1
7Malta82.1+0.4
8Austria81.6+0.4
8Ireland81.6+0.2
10Netherlands81.50
11Portugal81.4+0.1
12Belgium81.3+0.4
12Finland81.3-0.1
14Greece81+0.2
14Slovenia81+0.4
16Denmark80.9+0.2
16Germany80.9+0.3
18Czechia79+0.4
19Croatia78+0.6
20Estonia77.8+0.1
20Poland Estimated77.8+0.4
22Slovakia77.3+0.6
23Hungary76.1+0.5
24Romania Series break75.2+0.3
25Latvia74.8+0.1
25Lithuania74.8+0.4
27Bulgaria74.7+0.2

Other periods

About this ranking

Average number of years a newborn would live at current age-specific mortality, both sexes.

United States: NCHS period life tables. National figures from 1900 to 1932 cover only the states then in the death registration area. State figures are available for 2018 to 2021.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the EU countries are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

Eurostat. Life expectancy by age and sex (demo_mlexpec). https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/demo_mlexpec/default/table. Retrieved 2026-10-07.

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Questions

Which EU country has the highest life expectancy?

Spain, with 83.1 years in 2016, according to Eurostat, European Commission.

Which EU country has the lowest life expectancy?

Bulgaria, with 74.7 years in 2016.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: Eurostat, European Commission, Life expectancy by age and sex (demo_mlexpec). Retrieved 2026-10-07.

Life expectancy at birth: other rankings

EU countries: more rankings