Cypriots lived an average of 0.6 years longer in 2024, with overall life expectancy at birth rising to 83.55 years, according to data released on Friday by Eurostat.

With this increase, Cyprus ranks among the EU countries recording the largest gains in life expectancy for both women and men.

The biggest rise was recorded in Latvia, where life expectancy increased by 0.8 years, while Finland and Cyprus both recorded an increase of 0.6 years.

Across the European Union, average life expectancy reached 81.5 years in 2024, rising by 0.1 years compared with 2023.

The highest life expectancy in Europe was recorded in the Spanish region of Comunidad de Madrid, where people live on average up to 85.7 years.

By country, the highest life expectancy was recorded in Spain at 84 years, followed by Sweden with 83.8 years and Italy with 83.7 years. Cyprus followed closely with an average life expectancy of 83.55 years.

In most EU countries, life expectancy in 2024 was equal to or higher than in 2019. The only exceptions were Germany, where it fell by 0.1 years, and the Netherlands, where it declined by 0.3 years.

Over the same period, the largest increases were recorded in Cyprus, where life expectancy rose by 1.2 years, and in Lithuania, where it increased by one year.

Across the EU, women continue to live significantly longer than men. In 2024, women had an average life expectancy of 84.1 years, compared with 78.9 years for men.

In Cyprus, life expectancy for women rose to 85.6 years, while for men it reached 81.5 years.

The live expectancy at birth has recorded a sharp increase in the past ten years due to numerous factors including advances in healthcare and medicine, reduced infant mortality higher living standards and improved education.

Overall life expectancy has risen by more than two years per decade since the 1960s, with the only notable decline occurring during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, when 25 EU member states recorded lower life expectancy.

The only exceptions were Cyprus and Denmark.