Australia leads in life expectancy among high-income Anglophone nations, outperforming in reducing premature mortality from cardiovascular, respiratory, and external causes. It also exhibits lower geographic inequality in mortality, while the USA lags significantly, highlighting disparities and the importance of effective health policies for ageing populations.
August 2024 – BMJ
Key takeaways
- Australia leads in life expectancy across Anglophone nations: Australia consistently achieves the highest life expectancy among high-income Anglophone countries, attributed to lower mortality rates across most age groups, particularly between 45 and 84. This is largely due to advancements in healthcare, lower rates of preventable deaths, and effective public health initiatives
- Premature mortality is driven by chronic and external causes: Lower life expectancy in countries like the USA is linked to higher mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancers, respiratory conditions, and external causes such as drug overdoses and firearm-related deaths. Addressing these factors could significantly improve life expectancy
- Geographic inequalities in life expectancy persist within countries: Australia demonstrates the lowest regional inequality, whereas countries like the USA and Ireland exhibit stark differences between regions. Socioeconomic disparities and access to healthcare are significant contributors to these geographic variations
Policies such as Australia’s strong tobacco control measures, investment in mental health programmes, and healthcare system performance have contributed to its longevity advantage. These strategies serve as a model for reducing inequalities and improving health outcomes in other nations.
Read the article at: Wilkie, Rachel Z., and Jessica Y. Ho. “Life Expectancy and Geographic Variation in Mortality: An Observational Comparison of Six High-Income Anglophone Countries.” BMJ Open, vol. 14, 2024, e079365, doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079365.