According to recently published research in The Conversation, life expectancy continues to rise, though widening regional differences are reshaping how and where people live longer.
For decades, life expectancy has steadily increased across the developed world. Advances in medicine, better living conditions, and improved public health have all played a role. Yet in recent years, researchers have begun to question whether this progress is slowing down. A major European study offers fresh insight, and the findings suggest a more complex story.
Drawing on data from 450 regions across Western Europe between 1992 and 2019, researchers analysed long-term trends in life expectancy. Their work reveals that while people are still living longer, the pace and distribution of these gains are changing.
Longevity is still improving
One of the most important findings is that human longevity has not reached its limit. In the highest-performing regions, life expectancy continues to rise at a steady pace. In some areas of Northern Italy, Switzerland, and Spain, gains remain consistent with previous decades.
Researchers found that life expectancy is still increasing by around two and a half months per year for men and one and a half months for women in these regions. This challenges the idea of a biological ceiling. It suggests that there is still room to extend human lifespan, particularly where health systems and living conditions are strong.
A growing divide between regions
While some regions continue to improve, others are falling behind. The study highlights a clear divide that has emerged since the mid-2000s.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, lower-performing regions were catching up. Life expectancy was rising quickly, and the gap between regions was narrowing. That trend has now reversed. In parts of the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Germany, progress has slowed or stopped altogether.
This creates a fragmented picture of longevity. Some regions continue to push forward, while others stagnate. The result is a widening gap in how long people live depending on where they live.
The critical role of midlife health
The research points to one key factor behind this divide. Mortality rates between the ages of 55 and 74 have become increasingly important.
In earlier decades, improvements in cardiovascular care and healthier lifestyles reduced deaths in this age group. This helped drive overall gains in life expectancy. Since the 2000s, that progress has slowed. In some regions, mortality rates in this age range are now rising.
This shift has a strong impact on overall longevity. A slowdown in midlife health improvements can quickly stall national life expectancy gains. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol use, poor diet, and lack of exercise are likely contributors.
Longevity is shaped by more than medicine
The findings also highlight the role of social and economic conditions. The 2008 financial crisis appears to have deepened regional inequalities. Areas that experienced long-term economic strain often saw worse health outcomes.
This reinforces an important point. Longevity is not only about medical advances. It is also shaped by employment, education, environment, and access to resources. Where these factors are strong, people tend to live longer. Where they are weaker, progress can stall.
What this means for the future
The study offers a clear message. People can continue to live longer, but this progress is not guaranteed for everyone. The future of longevity will depend on reducing regional inequalities and improving health in midlife.
Rather than asking how long humans can live, the more important question may be who gets the chance to live longer.
