The Japanese Lifespan Has Extended, What Awaits Beyond? Considering a Longevity Society Based on 87.33 Years for Women and 81.35 Years for Men
In 2025, the average life expectancy for Japanese people reached 87.33 years for women and 81.35 years for men, marking an increase for both genders for the first time in two years. Women have held the world's number one spot for 41 consecutive years.
The fact that Japan continues to be one of the world's leading countries in longevity is news that should be genuinely celebrated. This is because the results of many years of effort—such as advancements in medical technology, the spread of health checkups, improvements in sanitary environments, and increased awareness of diet—are reflected in these figures.
However, when we see the figures of 87.33 years for women and 81.35 years for men, should we simply be happy that "Japanese people are living longer"?
What kind of life awaits us beyond this extended lifespan? Taking this news as an opportunity, I would like to consider both the bright side of a longevity society and the challenges we must face from here on out.
The extension of average life expectancy is a major achievement for medicine and society
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare analyzes that the primary reasons for the increase in average life expectancy in 2025 are the declining mortality rates from cancer, heart disease, and COVID-19.
Even for diseases that were once highly likely to be fatal, more people are living longer due to early detection and advancements in treatment technology. Emergency medicine, surgery, and pharmacotherapy have also made significant progress.
Behind the numbers of longevity lies the cumulative effort of many people, including medical professionals, researchers, caregivers, and government officials.
Average life expectancy is also an indicator that comprehensively reflects a country's health, medical care, welfare, and living environment. The fact that women have maintained the world's number one spot for 41 consecutive years is one piece of evidence that Japan's social security and medical standards are high.
On the other hand, while the average life expectancy for men also increased from the previous year, their global ranking dropped from 6th to 7th. This is not because the lifespan of Japanese men has shortened, but because other countries are also making progress in health measures and improving their medical environments.
To remain a country of longevity, we must not become complacent with past achievements and must continue to further advance preventive medicine and measures against lifestyle-related diseases.
Average life expectancy and healthy life expectancy are not the same
In the news about average life expectancy, what we should be particularly careful about is the difference from healthy life expectancy.
Healthy life expectancy refers to the period during which one can live without being significantly restricted in daily life due to health problems. The currently published healthy life expectancy for 2022 is 72.57 years for men and 75.45 years for women.
The gap from average life expectancy is approximately 9 years for men and 12 years for women.
This does not mean that the entire gap is a period of being bedridden. However, it does include the possibility of needing outpatient care or medication, difficulty going out or shopping alone, or experiencing obstacles in housework or work.
Living a long life and living a healthy, independent life are not the same
Women live about 6 years longer than men, but they also tend to have a longer period during which they may face health problems.
While the figure of women having the world's longest lifespan is something to be proud of, there are also issues such as dementia, osteoporosis, falls and fractures, living alone, and elderly-to-elderly care.
What we should aim for is not just to extend the average life expectancy, but to narrow the gap with healthy life expectancy as much as possible.
Who will support our longer old age?
As lifespans extend, the periods requiring pensions, medical care, and nursing care also grow longer.
In an era where nearly half of all women live to be around 90, retirement at 65 means an old age that lasts for over 20, or in some cases, nearly 30 years.
To support such a long period, it is necessary to have not only the individual's savings and pension, but also support from family, the community, medical institutions, nursing facilities, and the government.
However, there is currently a serious labor shortage in the fields of medical and nursing care. While the number of elderly people is increasing, the working-age population that supports them is shrinking.
Even if medical technology that extends life develops, if the systems to support life afterward are weak, it will not lead to true peace of mind in the future.
The burden on families is also a major issue. There is a possibility of an increase in 'elderly-caring-for-elderly' situations, where elderly children care for their elderly parents, as well as people leaving their jobs to focus on caregiving.
To maintain a longevity society, it is not enough to simply increase the number of hospitals and nursing facilities; we must establish systems that allow people to continue living in their communities, such as home medical care, visiting nursing, monitoring services, and mobility support. We must create a society where people can live with peace of mind even as they age, rather than a society where living a long life leads to anxiety for the individual and their family.
What will be questioned from now on is not how long we live.
To extend healthy life expectancy, it is important not to start doing special things only after becoming elderly, but to build upon habits from a young age.
Basic lifestyle habits such as moderate exercise, sufficient sleep, a nutritionally balanced diet, not smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, and regular health checkups determine future health. Furthermore, to continue eating with your own mouth even in old age, protecting your teeth and oral function is essential, making regular dental checkups important.
This is because neglecting regular dental checkups and losing teeth or experiencing a decline in chewing strength affects not only food intake and nutritional status but also overall muscle strength and social interaction.
To extend the period during which you can walk on your own feet, eat with your own mouth, and live by your own will, let's get dental checkups.
Also, health is not just the absence of disease;
having opportunities to talk with people, having roles and hobbies, and not losing connections with society are also important for maintaining physical and mental health.
The extension of average life expectancy is a major achievement accomplished by Japanese society. However, to translate that achievement into true happiness, we must consider everything from healthy life expectancy and medical care to nursing care, housing, and family support.
To ensure that what awaits beyond the extended Japanese lifespan is not just long-term care and anxiety, what Japan should aim for from now on is not just a country where people can live long, but a country where people can live as themselves and with peace of mind until the very end.