Definition and Difference from Life Expectancy
Healthy Life Expectancy (HALE) measures the number of years a person can expect to live without functional limitations in daily life. Calculated by the WHO using disease burden data from each country, it essentially equals life expectancy minus years spent in poor health. In Japan, the gap between life expectancy and HALE is about 9 years for men and 12 years for women.
Global HALE Rankings
According to WHO statistics, top-ranking countries for HALE consistently include Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Switzerland. These nations share strong healthcare access, emphasis on preventive medicine, and high-quality dietary habits.
Meanwhile, many sub-Saharan African countries have HALE values around 50 years, with infectious diseases, malnutrition, and inadequate medical infrastructure as primary causes. The gap in HALE is even wider than the gap in life expectancy.
Factors That Reduce Unhealthy Years
Preventing lifestyle diseases is the most effective way to shorten the unhealthy period. Regular exercise, balanced nutrition, smoking cessation, and maintaining a healthy weight form the foundation. Additionally, maintaining social connections and cognitive training have been shown in epidemiological studies to improve independence in later life.
Role in MyRank
MyRank can estimate your relative position in healthy life expectancy among your global age cohort. The practical value of this indicator lies not just in living longer, but in understanding your standing from the perspective of living healthily, motivating lifestyle improvements.