Introduction
Life expectancy reflects the overall health and well-being of Ukraine society. Life expectancy at birth measures the average number of years a newborn can expect to live if current mortality patterns continue throughout their lifetime. This indicator provides insights into population health, healthcare system effectiveness, and quality of life.
Life expectancy in Ukraine is influenced by healthcare access, lifestyle factors, socioeconomic conditions, and public health policies. Understanding these trends helps address key demographic challenges such as population ageing, healthcare system sustainability, and social welfare planning.
Data come from OECD health statistics, which compile harmonised mortality and population data from national statistical offices. These data are updated annually and provide comprehensive coverage of life expectancy trends by age, gender, and other demographic characteristics.
Life Expectancy at Birth
In 2023, life expectancy at birth in Ukraine rose to 73.4 years (+0.7 y/y), indicating continued improvements in population health as healthcare access and quality improve, alongside better living conditions and public health interventions.
Life Expectancy by Gender
Life expectancy patterns vary significantly by gender, reflecting different health risks, lifestyle factors, and healthcare utilisation patterns. Women typically live longer than men in most countries, though the gap has been narrowing in recent decades.
In 2023, life expectancy at birth for women in Ukraine increased to 80.2 years (+0.8 y/y), indicating continued improvements in women's health outcomes as healthcare access and preventive care expand. For men, life expectancy at birth reached 66.9 years (+0.7 y/y) in 2023, showing improvements in men's health outcomes as awareness of health risks and access to healthcare services improve. The gender gap in life expectancy rose to 13.3 years (+0.1 y/y) in 2023, showing a widening gap as women's life expectancy increases more rapidly than men's, highlighting persistent gender differences in health risks and healthcare access.
Life Expectancy by Age
Life expectancy at different ages provides insights into remaining years of life for people who have already reached certain milestones. This measure helps understand mortality patterns across the life course and informs retirement and healthcare planning.
For people aged 40 in Ukraine, remaining life expectancy rose to 39.8 years for women (+0.2 y/y) and 31.2 years for men (+0.2 y/y) in 2019. These improvements reflect continued progress in mid-life health outcomes as preventive care and treatment options expand.
At age 60, remaining life expectancy reached 22 years for women (+0.2 y/y) and 16.4 years for men (+0.1 y/y) in 2019, showing improvements in later-life health outcomes as healthcare quality and access improve for older adults.
At age 65, remaining life expectancy increased to 17.9 years for women (+0.1 y/y) and 13.5 years for men (+0.1 y/y) in 2019. These improvements indicate continued progress in retirement-age health outcomes, with implications for pension system sustainability and healthcare planning.
For people aged 80, remaining life expectancy reached 7.8 years for women (+0.1 y/y) and 7 years for men (+0.1 y/y) in 2019, showing improvements in advanced-age health outcomes as medical advances and long-term care services expand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Several factors shape life expectancy in Ukraine:
- Healthcare access and quality: Availability of medical services, preventive care, and treatment options significantly impact health outcomes
- Lifestyle factors: Diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption influence mortality patterns
- Socioeconomic conditions: Income levels, education, and living conditions affect health outcomes and healthcare utilisation
- Public health policies: Disease prevention, health promotion, and environmental regulations contribute to population health
- Demographic factors: Age structure, gender, and regional differences influence overall life expectancy patterns
- Environmental factors: Air quality, water quality, and living environment affect health outcomes
Ukraine's life expectancy of 73.4 years. For comparison, life expectancy in other countries:
- Japan: 84.1 years
- Switzerland: 84.3 years
- Spain: 84 years
- Italy: 83.5 years
- France: 83 years
- Germany: 81.1 years
- United States: 78.4 years
The gender gap in life expectancy reflects several factors:
- Biological factors: Genetic and hormonal differences may contribute to different mortality patterns
- Lifestyle factors: Men tend to engage in riskier behaviours, including higher rates of smoking, alcohol consumption, and occupational hazards
- Healthcare utilisation: Women often seek preventive care and medical attention more frequently than men
- Occupational risks: Historically, men have been more likely to work in dangerous occupations
- Social factors: Gender roles and social expectations influence health behaviours and healthcare access
In Ukraine, the gender gap in life expectancy is currently 13.3 years, with women living longer on average.
Life expectancy is calculated using current age-specific mortality rates observed in a given year. It represents the average number of years a person can expect to live if they experience the current mortality conditions throughout their lifetime. The calculation uses life tables constructed from death registration data and population estimates, compiled by national statistical offices and harmonised by international organisations like the OECD. Life expectancy at birth uses mortality rates for all ages, while life expectancy at older ages uses mortality rates for those specific age groups and older. This synthetic measure allows comparison across countries and time periods, regardless of population age structure differences.
Life Expectancy in Other Countries
Explore life expectancy data in specific countries — choose a country to see detailed analysis.
Methodology and Data Sources
All charts and indicators update automatically based on OECD health statistics, typically released annually once national statistical offices publish their final results. The data are derived from vital statistics registers and population estimates, harmonised to ensure comparability across OECD member countries. Life expectancy is calculated using current age-specific mortality rates, expressing the average number of years a person can expect to live if current mortality patterns continue throughout their lifetime.