Which départements have the oldest populations?

The French National Institute for Demographic Studies (INED) recently published the results of its Vie Quotidienne et Santé survey. This study looked at life expectancy in each of France's 95 départements. The findings: differences in life expectancy at birth from north to south. Discover the departments with the highest disability-free life expectancy.

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5 départements where people age in good health

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In France, life expectancy at birth is rising sharply for both men and women. According to an INED study, life expectancy is higher in the south of France than in the north.. The same applies to disability-free life expectancy, i.e. the number of years to live without being limited by a disability. According to DRESS, disability-free life expectancy is 64.5 years for women and 63.4 years for men.

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Here are the top 5 French departments where people live the longest:

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• Hautes-Alpes: 85.1 for men and 88 for women
• Paris: 85 for men and 89 for women
• Yvelines: 84.5 years for men and 88.8 years for women
• Hauts-de-Seine: 84.5 years for men and 88.8 years for women
• Haute-Garonne: 84.4 years for men and 88.5 years for women

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As you can see, men's life expectancy is highest in the Hautes-Alpes (85.1 years). For women, Paris has the longest life expectancy (89 years).

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However, in the North-East of France, people aged 60 and over have a disability-free life expectancy of 26 years for women and 20 years for men. The health situation in Nord-Pas-De-Calais, and more generally in Hauts-de-France, is worrying. In fact, men and women live 2 years less than the rest of France.

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What explains this longevity in the south of France?

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Eating habits are the first factor to positively influence health and longevity. However, other factors also play a part: a high proportion of executives and CSP+, accessibility to healthcare and physical activity for seniors.

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Medical deserts reinforce these inequalities in life expectancy between regions. Teleconsultation booths have been set up to support doctors in areas where there is a shortage of doctors. Don't hesitate to make use teleconsultations provided by Tessan. You'll be put in touch with a doctor without an appointment within 15 minutes.

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For the South-West and the Côte d'Azur, the region's mild climate and excellent living environment are part of the answer. Added to this is the department's good economic situation.

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What is disability-free life expectancy?

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Also known as healthy life expectancy, disability-free life expectancy refers to indicators that combine mortality and health data. It measures the number of years a person can live without losing their autonomy.

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To assess the disability-free life expectancy of each inhabitant of a département, INED first calculated the disability-free life expectancy in the 95 French départements. This indicator was then linked to the functional limitations faced by French people in their sixties. In 2020, disability-free life expectancy at age 65 is 12.1 years for women and 10.6 years for men.

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Decline in global life expectancy due to Covid-19

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In addition to its effect on the healthcare system, Covid-19 has had a negative impact on longevity. 27 of the 29 countries studied by Oxford University have experienced a reduction in life expectancy at birth over the past two years. In the USA, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Poland, a drop of over 18 months has been recorded. For France, the loss of life expectancy between 2019 and 2020 is estimated at around six months.

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