Life expectancy of residents at birth Singapore 2014-2023

In 2023, the average life expectancy at birth in Singapore was 83 years. The average life expectancy for residents there had increased in the last ten years, corresponding with the increasing economic progress of the country. 

Investments in medical advances and disease management

Singapore’s expenditure on health as a percentage of the GDP plays a significant role in increasing the life expectancy in the country. In 2018, the Singaporean government spent approximately 1.79 thousand Singapore dollars per inhabitant on health. Improvements in health care and medical technology, an integrated health care system, as well as access to sanitation and reduced risk of infectious diseases, all helped the population of the country to achieve longer life.

Healthy life expectancy versus life expectancy

In healthy life expectancy, which refers to the number of years people live in full health, Singapore topped the list in 2017 at 72.6 years and 75.8 years, for males and females respectively. This means that the average Singaporean would live about 10 years in ill health in 2017. The prospect of an ageing and unhealthy population is worrying for a country whose most important resource is its people. By 2050, close to half the population is expected to be aged 65 years or older. It is thus crucial to increase life expectancy while simultaneously reducing the amount of time people spend in poor health. According to the survey among Singapore residents in March 2018, only 23 percent of respondents stated that they were ready for retirement or old age in terms of their health.