Israel, with an average life expectancy of 83.8 years, climbed to fourth in the world among OECD countries regarding longest lifespans, new data published by the Ministry of Health on Sunday revealed.
Israel trails after Japan (84.1), Switzerland (84.3), and Spain (84). Further, this comes despite low public investment in health, compared to many European countries.
The data indicated an increase in life expectancy from 84.8 to 85.7 years in women, and 80.7 to 81.7 years in men, almost a year more than recorded in 2023. This increase was observed only in a small number of countries, according to the report. In Israel, this is considered a bounce back from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, the local life expectancy was relatively moderate.
According to the report, Israel invests 7.6% of its GDP in health, while in Germany the investment stands at 12.3%, in Austria and Switzerland at 11.8% each, in France at 11.5%, and in Sweden at 11.3%. Despite the low figure, the Israeli health system managed to achieve particularly good results, highlighting the public system's high efficiency.
One of the most impressive figures in the report concerns the infant mortality rate in Israel, which stands at only 2.7 per 100,000 births, lower than the average in OECD countries. This is an achievement that, according to the Ministry of Health, reflects long-term investment in genetic test accessibility, pregnancy monitoring, and parental guidance. Despite existing gaps between groups in the population, there has been a consistent decrease in infant mortality for more than a decade.
In the field of disease prevention, Israel also presents encouraging data. The country ranks second after Switzerland in the lowest preventable mortality rate, with only 134 deaths per 100,000 people, a sharp decrease compared to 170 deaths in 2010.
The Ministry of Health notes that the continued decline in mortality also stems from impressive technological development in the emergency medical system, a result of emergency service accessibility and a focus on saving lives in the early stages of a medical event.
Israel is also among the countries with the lowest mortality rate from heart disease: only 49.4 deaths per 100,000 people. This is a consistent decline since 2015, indicating a significant improvement in the accessibility of advanced treatments, adherence to preventive medications, and nutrition and heart health policies.
According to officials at the Ministry of Health, the data showcased effective cooperation between health funds, hospitals, and community medicine, which has led to a decrease in the rate of fatal cardiovascular events in Israel.
The data also shows that the vaccination rate in Israel, especially against measles, has remained stable over the past decade and stands at over 90%, similar to the average for OECD countries. Many countries have seen a significant decline in vaccination following the spread of conspiracy theories on social media, but in Israel, a high level of vaccination has been maintained thanks to an extensive vaccination program in community clinics.
Along with the impressive achievements, the data also reveals a significant challenge: the smoking rate in Israel stands at 16.1% among those aged 15 and over, a high rate relative to other OECD countries. In Israel, smoking causes approximately 8,000 deaths per year. Despite a moderate decline over the past decade, this is an unstable trend.
"Israel manages to have one of the highest life expectancies in the world, an infant mortality rate, and a mortality rate from heart disease that is among the lowest in developed countries," said Dr. Asher Shalmon, Director of the International Relations Division at the Ministry of Health. "However, alongside the achievements, the challenges are clear, from dealing with high smoking rates to the need to increase investment in infrastructure and manpower."
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