Data / Rankings / Life expectancy at birth / EU countries

EU countries by life expectancy

Spain had the highest life expectancy of 27 EU countries in 2017, at 83 years. Bulgaria had the lowest, at 74.6 years. The median was 81.1 years and the figure for the European Union (27) was 80.7 years. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.

Highest83Spain
Lowest74.6Bulgaria
Median81.127 EU countries
European Union (27)80.7History

All EU countries, 2017

CSVChart (SVG)

SpainSpain: 83 years83ItalyItaly: 82.8 years82.8CyprusCyprus: 82.4 years82.4FranceFrance: 82.4 years82.4SwedenSweden: 82.4 years82.4IrelandIreland: 82 years82MaltaMalta: 82 years82LuxembourgLuxembourg: 81.8 years81.8NetherlandsNetherlands: 81.7 years81.7AustriaAustria: 81.6 years81.6PortugalPortugal: 81.6 years81.6FinlandFinland: 81.5 years81.5BelgiumBelgium: 81.4 years81.4DenmarkDenmark: 81.1 years81.1GermanyGermany: 81 years81GreeceGreece: 81 years81SloveniaSlovenia: 80.9 years80.9CzechiaCzechia: 79 years79EstoniaEstonia: 78.2 years78.2CroatiaCroatia: 77.8 years77.8PolandPoland: 77.7 years77.7SlovakiaSlovakia: 77.3 years77.3HungaryHungary: 75.9 years75.9LithuaniaLithuania: 75.7 years75.7RomaniaRomania: 75.2 years75.2LatviaLatvia: 74.8 years74.8BulgariaBulgaria: 74.6 years74.6
years. Source: Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-10-07.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2017
years		Change on 2016
1Spain83-0.1
2Italy82.8-0.2
3Cyprus82.4-0.4
3France82.40
3Sweden82.4+0.1
6Ireland82+0.4
6Malta82-0.1
8Luxembourg Series break81.8-0.5
9Netherlands81.7+0.2
10Austria81.60
10Portugal81.6+0.2
12Finland81.5+0.2
13Belgium81.4+0.1
14Denmark81.1+0.2
15Germany81+0.1
15Greece810
17Slovenia80.9-0.1
18Czechia790
19Estonia78.2+0.4
20Croatia77.8-0.2
21Poland Estimated77.7-0.1
22Slovakia77.30
23Hungary75.9-0.2
24Lithuania75.7+0.9
25Romania75.20
26Latvia74.80
27Bulgaria74.6-0.1

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 years in 2017, according to Eurostat, European Commission.

Which EU country has the lowest life expectancy?

Bulgaria, with 74.6 years in 2017.

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