Hong Kong Women Surpassed Japanese Women in Life Expectancy

Those in Hong Kong live longer than any other people in the world, says a recent study considered by Japan's Welfare Ministry.

Since 1985, Japanese women have enjoyed the title of the world's longest average life expectancy. However, in the wake of the massive earthquake in March 2015 and increasing youth suicide rates in Japan, Hong Kong women have overtaken. In the year 2015, it was announced that the average Hong Kong woman's lifespan is 87.32 years, while also ranked first in the study are Hong Kong men, who reach an average of 81.24 years of age.

Officials at the Japanese Ministry of Healthy, Labor and Welfare have attributed Hong Kong's extended life expectancy to the advancements in medical procedures and treatments. With breakthroughs in medical technology, the major cause of death-illness has significantly diminished. Meanwhile, local health experts asserted the main reason as Hong Kong's immense reduction in tobacco consumption compared to 30 years ago. Nevertheless, experts have also cautioned that these statistics should be taken with a grain of salt. While Japan is a whole country, Hong Kong is merely a city state. Since inhabitants in
cities generally have better access to education, nutrition and any necessity needs, the rural population in Japan is at a disadvantage.

Although it should be celebrated that life expectancy has gradually increased over the deacdes, scholars have expressed concerns that Hong Kong is facing a trend of high life expectancy yet low fertility rate. As a result, government policies should be implemented to lessen the negative impacts on the labor force in the long run.