The healthiest countries in the world have not emerged by some random chance, but by deliberately making the provision of healthcare to their people a priority. These countries have invested a lot of resources into the establishment of standard healthcare sectors, and have backed them up with solid research facilities to improve upon the established practices.
Some other important factors may contribute to the overall health of a population; such as those islands that have very little contact with the outside world; and therefore very little chance of infections spreading. The culture of a people, as well as the type of food they eat may also contribute to the health of the country.
Top 50 Healthiest Countries In The World
1. Japan
Japan is traditionally the healthiest country in the world; the citizens enjoy remarkably healthy lives, and live longest on the planet. Japan’s good health and longevity has not been narrowed down to a single cause; but there are plenty of factors with which they have been associated:
Traditionally, the Japanese people live very active lives; and even though the country is one of the pioneers in industrialization, many of the rural dwellers still do things the old way which gives them plenty of physical exercise.
Japanese people have very good cuisine; their traditional foods have little fat, and are very nutritious. Japan has a very good healthcare system which puts lives above money; this important tenet is what makes the country unique.
2. Singapore
Singapore is a country in Asia; it is a city state- London is 2 times bigger than Singapore by size area. Another thing that makes this place special is the amount of wealth it controls; Singapore is one of the richest places in the world, with the highest concentration of wealth per square mile.
Rich people know how to take care of themselves; they can certainly afford the best food and exercise regimen.
Added to that; Singapore has an excellent public healthcare system, as well as state of the art research facilities which increase knowledge available in healthcare.
3. South Korea
South Korea is located in the Korean peninsula; which is in Southeast Asia.
South Korea is also a rich country; it has a good number of millionaires and billionaires, and even the average citizens are not categorically poor. However, it seems that it is not the wealth of the country that has inspired its citizens to have good health.
South Korea has a very well preserved culture; its food, and way of life; including agriculture and other aspects keep the people fit and healthy; and the government has put a very good health care system in place that takes care of the people, and prevents and manages the outbreak of infectious diseases.
4. Norway
Norway is a country in northern Europe; one of the richest parts of the world. Norway has some of the cleanest air in the world, some of the finest land, and some of the most adventurous people.
Norway has been described as a welfare state; the country provides essential services such as healthcare more or less free for all members of the society.
The healthcare delivery system in this country is excellent; public hospitals in this country are some of the best that can be found anywhere in the world.
5. Australia
Australia is a country on the other side of the globe; it is that huge landmass in the Pacific Ocean. This country has become quite popular in recent years as a great place to live, work, or study. Of course that popularity arises from the fact that Australia is quite a rich country, and that wealth has enabled it to build a very solid healthcare system for its citizens.
Furthermore, Australians are very active people; the majority of them love the great outdoors. This enables them to stay fit and strong, and to have one of the highest life expectancies in the world.
6. Switzerland
Switzerland is a rich and powerful country in central Europe. Not powerful in the sense of military power, but in the sense that knowledge is power. Switzerland is home to some of the biggest companies in the field of pharmaceutical research.
Another important factor is that Switzerland has so many hills and mountains that it becomes impossible not to be a hiker. These fun outdoor activities contribute to the health and physical fitness of the people of the country; plus the fact that there is an excellent healthcare system in the country, which is paid for by the government.
7. Iceland
Iceland is a country in northern Europe; it is a small country, but made up of people who really care about each other.
Iceland has a very interesting culture; and one of the most interesting aspects of their culture is their food; which in one way or the other, usually includes fish. This is no surprise, the country is completely surround by water.
Aside from the very good food available in the country; there is very good healthcare available to all citizens. The cumulative of these factors is that Iceland is one of the healthiest countries in the world; with very good life expectancy.
8. Israel
Israel is a country that is technically in western Asia; but is more European than Asian. Israel has been an unprecedented military, economic, and political force; owing to the fact that it is a relatively new state.
Israel has excellent healthcare research facilities, and the government also has very good welfare in pave to protect the citizens. The hospitals in this country are also some of the finest in the world.
9. Malta
Malta is a small island country in the Mediterranean; it is officially part of Europe. Malta’s are healthy because they breathe some of the purest air in the world; the people also take life at a slower pace- there is a healthy work-life balance.
Malta has a life expectancy of 82.65 years; which shows just how well the country is doing in terms of healthcare delivery and maintenance.
10. Sweden
Sweden is a country in Europe; one with a great economy, a great cultural heritage, and a great people. Located on the Scandinavian peninsular; Sweden is not an island per se; it is located on an island shared by several countries.
The food, the terrain, and the active lifestyles of the people make this a very healthy place to live; plus the excellent healthcare system which is put in place for the free use of the people make this an excellent place to live.
The following is a more extensive list of the healthiest countries in the world.
| Rank | Country | Life Expectancy | Location |
| 1 | Japan | 84.62 | Asia |
| 2 | Singapore | 83.74 | Asia |
| 3 | South Korea | 83.43 | Asia |
| 4 | Norway | 83.21 | Europe |
| 5 | Australia | 83.20 | Europe |
| 6 | Switzerland | 83.10 | Europe |
| 7 | Iceland | 83.07 | Europe |
| 8 | Israel | 82.70 | Asia |
| 9 | Malta | 82.65 | Europe |
| 10 | Sweden | 82.41 | Europe |
| 11 | Italy | 82.34 | Europe |
| 12 | Spain | 82.33 | Europe |
| 13 | French Polynesia | 82.22 | Oceania |
| 14 | Ireland | 82.20 | Europe |
| 15 | France | 82.18 | Europe |
| 16 | Finland | 82.13 | Europe |
| 17 | New Zealand | 82.06 | Oceania |
| 18 | Bermuda | 82.06 | North Atlantic |
| 19 | Liechtenstein | 81.81 | Europe |
| 20 | Canada | 81.75 | Americas |
| 21 | Luxembourg | 81.74 | Europe |
| 22 | Denmark | 81.55 | Europe |
| 23 | Netherlands | 81.41 | Europe |
| 24 | Cyprus | 81.39 | Europe |
| 25 | Channel Islands | 81.26 | Europe |
| 26 | Austria | 81.19 | Europe |
| 27 | Greece | 81.09 | Europe |
| 28 | Portugal | 80.98 | Europe |
| 29 | Germany | 80.94 | Europe |
| 30 | United Kingdom | 80.90 | Europe |
| 31 | New Caledonia | 80.83 | Pacific Ocean |
| 32 | Belgium | 80.80 | Europe |
| 33 | Slovenia | 80.53 | Europe |
| 34 | Maldives | 79.88 | Asia |
| 35 | Chile | 79.38 | Americas |
| 36 | Costa Rica | 79.28 | Americas |
| 37 | Thailand | 79.27 | Asia |
| 38 | Bahrain | 79.17 | Asia |
| 39 | Qatar | 79.10 | Asia |
| 40 | United Arab Emirates | 78.95 | Asia |
| 41 | Antigua and Barbuda | 78.84 | Americas |
| 42 | Uruguay | 78.43 | Americas |
| 43 | Estonia | 78.35 | Europe |
| 44 | Czech | 78.23 | Europe |
| 45 | China | 78.08 | Asia |
| 46 | Puerto Rico | 78.04 | Americas |
| 47 | Lebanon | 77.80 | Asia |
| 48 | Croatia | 77.72 | Europe |
| 49 | Cuba | 77.57 | Americas |
| 50 | Barbados | 77.39 | Americas |
Related:
- Top 50 Hottest Countries In The World
- Top 50 Coldest Countries In The World
- Top 50 Most Visited Countries In The World
Closing
While looking at the healthiest countries in the world, it is difficult to miss the fact that the first five countries on the list are islands, and that an additional two out of the first ten are islands. While there are many theories about what makes countries healthy; the data available to us suggests that the clean, untainted air of islands, as well as their diet of seafood are contribution factors.