Bulgaria near Bottom in EU Life Expectancy Ranking

Photo by EPA/BGNES

Bulgaria remains among the three EU member states with the lowest life expectancy rates.

With a life expectancy of 71.5 years, Bulgaria fares better than Lithuania (74.1) and Latvia (74.1), against an EU average of 80.3 years, according to conclusive data of Bulgaria's National Statistical Institute (NSI) for 2013, as cited by dnevnik.bg.

Male life expectancy in the EU stands at 77.5 years, while in Bulgaria it is 71 years.

Female life expectancy in the EU amounts to 83.1 years, while for Bulgarian women it is 78 years.

On a positive note, life expectancy in Bulgaria increased by 7.1 years compared to 1990-1992.

Bulgarian authorities mull tying the retirement age to the life expectancy.

The longest life expectancy has been recorded in Spain, at 82.5 years, followed by Italy with 82.4 years, and France with 82.1 years.

A total of 20 EU countries boast a life expectancy rate of over 80 years.

Bulgaria's mortality rate is the worst in the EU, at 14.4%, compared to an average of 9.9% for the EU28.

The male mortality rate, at 15.5%, continues to be higher than the female mortality rate, at 13.3%.

As regards the rate of premature death (below 64 years of age), there is an even more dramatic difference, with a rate of 14.2% for women and a rate of around 30% for men.

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