“In 2024, life expectancy in Italy reached a record 84.1 years, the highest in the European Union, tied with Sweden, six months above the pre-pandemic level,” according to the Italy-specific factsheet in the EU Country Health Profiles 2025 report from the OECD.
“Cardiovascular diseases and cancer,” the document continues, “account for more than half of deaths, while preventable deaths are concentrated in lung cancer, COVID-19 and ischemic heart disease.
“Despite a rapidly aging population, older Italians generally have better health outcomes than the EU average, although challenges remain, including widespread undiagnosed or untreated hypertension and rising smoking rates.”
ANSA
