New Delhi: Thanks to Australia's strong public healthcare system, Australian men have the longest life expectancy in the world, one of the country's leading demographers said on Thursday. He also said that the nation's men owe their longevity to a lively "outdoor lifestyle".
A study published in The Lancet medical journal, revealed that the longest life expectancy of any men in the world was of Australian men born in the year 2010.
Demographer Bernard Salt described the results of the study as 'a little surprising' considering Australians have notoriously poor diets, but said a "pretty good quality of life" counteracts the poor eating habits.
"I was a little taken aback by that report because I thought the Japanese men and women were streets ahead," Salt said.
"To have the highest life expectancy says something about the lifestyle in Australia, particularly in men.
"It comes down to healthy outdoor living and quality of health care. All of these things contribute to a pretty good quality of life."
The study said by 2030, South Korean men will live, on average, until 84.07 years while their Australian counterparts will live 84 years. By 2030, Australian women will be ranked sixth, living up to 87.57 years.
Salt said Australia's strong public healthcare system and world-leading health research institutes meant Australians were always first to learn about the newest healthy habits.
"I will say that Australian men since the 1940s, everyone smoke and drank... but we've become far more aware about being able to manage lifestyles better. We're healthy, outdoorsy people," Salt added.
(With IANS inputs)
