Dutch life expectancy still rising, but slowing down

The life expectancy for Dutch boys and girls born between 2011 and 2016 increased by six months to 81.5 years, Statistics Netherlands reported. That is a lower increased compared to the previous periods.

Life expectancy increases are also slowing down in the rest of Europe. On average, people in the European Union are expected to live to the age of 81 years, ten months older than in the previous 5 year period.

In almost all EU countries, the life expectancy for men increased faster than that of women since 1990, though women are still expected to live longer than men on average. According to the stats office, this has to do with the lifestyle differences between men and women decreasing. Between 1990 and 2017, the life expectancy for Dutch men increased by 6 years and 3 months and for Dutch women by 3 years and 3 months. 

In the Netherlands, the biggest life expectancy increase for men happened for boys born between 2003 and 2008. Their life expectancy increased by 25 months. For women it happened between 2002 and 2007, with a life expectancy increase of 19 months.