Spain is the healthiest country in the world. This is confirmed by the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index, which has granted our country a score of 92.8 out of 100 after having advanced five positions since the last analysis, in 2017, assessing aspects such as eating habits, health system and life expectancy.
In terms of nutrition, Bloomberg highlights the benefits of the Mediterranean diet and the role of extra virgin olive oil in the health of Spaniards, which also influences a lower rate of cardiovascular problems. This is confirmed by the Predimed study, noting that eating habits provide clues about the levels of health enjoyed by Spain, since a «Mediterranean diet, supplemented with extra virgin olive oil or nuts, had a lower rate of cardiovascular events greater than those assigned to a low-fat diet».
Along with Spain, the Top 10 of the healthiest countries is made up of Italy, Iceland, Japan, Switzerland, Sweden, Australia, Singapore, Norway and Israel.
In terms of life expectancy, the Bloomberg study confirms that Spain also shows the highest life expectancy at birth among the nations of the European Union, and only Japan and Switzerland overcome it globally. The study also highlights that in Spain for the year 2040 the highest life expectancy is expected, in almost 86 years, followed by Japan, Singapore and Switzerland.
Regarding the health system, Bloomberg values the programs of child health care, women and the elderly, which help reduce cardiovascular diseases and cancers.