Why Italians Live Longer

Good company and a strong sense of community are among the reasons Trentino-Alto Adige’s people live so long and so well (Photo: Tiziano Casalta/Dreamstime)

English  Italian

Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol Longevity – Search Videos

Trentino-Alto Adige, particularly the province of Bolzano, emerged as an exceptional area, both in Italy and Europe, for its high life expectancy. 

85.4 years
Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol stands out as a region with a high life expectancy, with an average life expectancy of 85.4 years. This figure is higher than the national average in Italy and the European Union. The region’s longevity is attributed to a combination of factors, including a strong healthcare system, a healthy lifestyle, and a commitment to sustainability. The region’s commitment to nature and local products is reflected in its tourism and culinary offerings, which are also linked to a healthier lifestyle.
List of Italian provinces by life expectancy – Wikipedia

That this region is among the European areas with the highest life expectancy at birth. Notably, Trento has recorded an impressive average life expectancy of 86.7 years for women, the second highest in Europe, only surpassed by the Community of Madrid with an average of 88.2 years.

The Autonomous Province of Bolzano also ranks among the top ten European regions for male life expectancy at birth, with an average of 81.8 years; this contrasts significantly with other Italian regions like Sicily and Campania, where life expectancy is comparatively lower. In these regions, the average age for women is 83.3 years, and for men, it’s 79.2 and 78.7 years, respectively.

Despite these disparities, it should be noted that all Italian regions still surpass the European Union average life expectancy, which is 82.9 years for women and 77.2 years for men. These numbers reflect Italy’s overall high standard of living and healthcare, both of which contribute to longer life spans compared to many other EU member states.

The province of Bolzano, Veneto, and the rest of the Trentino-Alto Adige region are among the European areas with high numbers of nonagenarians, indicating a growing elderly population. Of course, this increase comes with heightened demands for healthcare services in the North East: there are more than 600,000 individuals over 65 with two or more chronic diseases and about 180,000 elderly who are not self-sufficient, which calls for even more comprehensive and accessible healthcare services. 

In the broader European context, the regions with the highest life expectancy at birth include Madrid (85.4 years), Navarra (84.8 years), and the Finnish Åland Islands (84.6 years). Other European examples of high life expectancy are, besides our Trentino-Alto Adige,Stockholm,  Castile and León, and three other Spanish regions: Cantabria, Basque Country, and Galicia. 

Italy’s place in this context is significant, as the country ranks third in average life expectancy at birth with 82.7 years, an improvement from 82.3 years in 2020 but still lower than the pre-pandemic figure of 83.6 years in 2019. This data underscores the resilience and advancement of healthcare systems in Italy, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

While exploring the reasons behind the high life expectancy in Trentino-Alto Adige, it becomes evident that a combination of factors, encompassing everything from the territory  to local culture and services, plays a pivotal role; indeed, it is this multifaceted approach to well-being that underlies the region’s impressive health statistics.

And it isn’t just a supposition, data demonstrate it. 

Trentino-Alto Adige’s healthcare system sets the bar for excellence and accessibility: the region displays an effective medical infrastructure and a clear commitment to the creation of a dense network of healthcare professionals and facilities, ensuring that residents have ready access to medical care everywhere and at all times. But it’s not just about treating illnesses: the region’s healthcare system places a significant emphasis on preventive care and public health, focusing on keeping the population healthy in the first place.

This commitment to healthcare quality was recognized in 2022 when Trentino Alto-Adige ranked first in Italy for healthcare system quality, according to a report by the Italian Institute for Quality of Life (IQUVI). This result distinctively reflects the region’s dedication to maintaining high standards in medical services.

Lifestyle choices are one of the reasons why people in Trentino-Alto Adige have a high life expectancy (Photo: Enzodebe/Dreamstime)

Yet, the longevity seen in Trentino-Alto Adige cannot and should not solely be attributed to top-notch healthcare. The high standards of living, marked by its status as one of Italy’s wealthiest regions, also contribute significantly: economic stability is paired with low unemployment rates and high-quality education, factors that collectively enhance the residents’ overall well-being. Moreover, the region’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage add to the quality of life, providing residents with an environment that supports both physical and mental health.

Lifestyle choices among the residents also play a key role. The local diet, which favors fresh and nutritious ingredients, regular physical activity, and a lower rate of smoking compared to other Italian regions, all contribute to the Trentino-Alto Adige’s health profile.

In addition, the strong sense of community and social cohesion typical of the region — and all Alpine areas — certainly enhances the creation and maintenance of strong support networks, essential especially for good mental health. And then, we cannot forget Trentino-Alto Adige’s mountains and lush nature, clean air and pristine water, all factors that encourage many to live more healthily. 

It seems clear that Trentino-Alto Adige overall  health is not a mere coincidence, rather, it’s the result of a series of elements, ranging from a well-structured, capillary healthcare network to economic stability, all the way to a culture that fosters healthy living and strong community bonds.

 Comfortably protected by its mountains, and reinvigorated by its clean air, Trentino-Alto Adige offers both a blueprint for longevity and a holistic approach to life that balances modern healthcare with traditional values and environmental harmony. In an age where the pursuit of health is often complex and challenging, this region shows us the true potential of an integrated approach to well-being and health, where efficiency, education, nature, and a strong sense of community can truly bring us closer to living to 100

.image.png

The VII Report “Welfare and Health”, coordinated by the Regional Health Agency, was presented in Florence and analysed the trend from 2019 to 2024.

Tuscans live long and are increasingly healthy, thanks also to a social-health system that is improving on all indicators. These are the main features that emerge from the seventh report “Welfare and health”, coordinated by the Regional Health Agency, presented Thursday at the Istituto degli Innocenti in Florence.

The report, which analyses the trend of the last five years (2019-2024) on the regional social-healthcare system front, highlights theincrease in the proportion of years lived in good physical condition after age 65: between 2009 and 2022 the percentage rose from 36% to 46% in men and from 28% to 38% in women, values among the highest in Italy. 98% of 65-74 year olds are independent in daily activities.

These numbers are accompanied by data on life expectancy (84 years) which exceeds the national average by more than half a year., placing the region in 3rd place in Italy for male longevity and 6th for female longevity. 

In the field of cardio- and cerebro-vascular emergencies, it confirms leading results. From 2019 to 2024 hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction dropped by 24% in men and 35% in women; for ischemic stroke the drop exceeds 25% in both genders. The quality and appropriateness of hospitalizations is also improving: in 2023, the hospitalization rate fell to 128,4 per 1000 inhabitants, well below the national standard of 160. Surgical hospitalizations have already exceeded pre-pandemic volumes, while medical hospitalizations remain below 2019 levels thanks to outpatient and telemonitoring pathways.

The report also focuses on also on demographic trends, highlighting how ageing (the26,7% of the population is over XNUMX) and the demographic winter are held back by the presence of foreign families. The low birth rate (20 births in 725) is offset by a positive migration balance of +2024 per 6,5 inhabitants. The presence of foreign citizens (12% of the population) It is characterized by an average age ten years younger than the natives.

Where in Italy do people live longest?

Where in Italy do people live longest?

You are here: Countries / Geographic Wiki / Where in Italy people live longest?

Home to the world’s longest-living men. mostly undiluted. The result: nearly 10 times more centenarians per capita than the U.S. View complete answer on  Sardinia, Italy – Blue Zones

What part of Italy has the longest life expectancy?

In 2022, Trentino-South Tyrol was the Italian region where both women and men were predicted to live the longest lives in the whole Italian peninsula. In Trentino-South Tyrol, the life expectancy at birth of men was 81.5 years, whereas women were expected to live 86 years. View complete answer on Italy: life expectancy at birth by region 2024| Statista

Which Italian island do people live longest?

Sardinia, Italy, was the first Blue Zone — where people regularly live to 100 — to be identified. Dan Buettner, who studies these longevity hotspots, has a new Netflix series out about Blue Zones. Sardinia’s residents live a traditional, laid back life; eat simply; and spend lots of time with family. View complete answer on Which Italian island do people live longest? Insider.com – Search

What town in Italy has the most old people?

Researchers think they might have found the secret to living a long and happy life, and it lies in a southern Italian village along the Mediterranean. It’s called Acciaroli. About a third of the people who live there – roughly 300 – are more than 100 years old. View complete answer on In One Italian Village, Nearly 300 Residents Are Over 100 Years Old : NPR

Why do people in Sardinia Italy live longer?

A bigger component contributing to the longevity of Sardinians may be the amount of exercise people are doing every day. Because of the steep, mountainous nature of the landscape, and the active “shepherd’s lifestyle”, as Buettner says, “they are getting low intensity and medium intensity exercise all the time. View complete answer on What the ‘Blue Zone’ island of Sardinia can teach us about living longer

Longevity: Journey into the blue zone | TechKnow

Why are Sardinians so healthy?

The classic Sardinian diet consists of whole-grain bread, beans, garden vegetables, fruits, and, in some parts of the island, mastic oil. Sardinians also traditionally eat pecorino cheese made from grass-fed sheep, whose cheese is high in omega-3 fatty acids. View complete answer on Sardinia, Italy – Blue Zones


Why is Italy paying people to move to Sardinia?

Many rural areas are facing ageing populations as young people move to cities or opt not to have children. To combat this, some local governments are encouraging foreigners to take up residence with relocation grants and cash payouts. View complete answer on  Want to get paid to move to Italy or Spain? Here are all the towns in need of new residents | Euronews

Where do all the millionaires live in Italy?

What are the prominent residential areas for wealthy people in Italy? Italy’s elite, including foreign investors, tends to dwell in key urban areas and picturesque regions such as Rome, Milan, Florence, and Venice, as well as parts of Tuscany, Lombardy, Liguria, and even in the southern reaches like Sicily. View complete answer on Richest Cities in Italy: A Comprehensive Guide (2025)

Why do people in Italy live so long?

The secret is family, friends, and fresh, whole foods. From our perspective, living in this community (and a few others across Italy), Italians take the time to connect with each other, remain geographically closer to their extended family, drive less, walk more, and spend more time around the table. View complete answer on Why Do Italians Live Longer Than Americans? – Livology

Which Italian village has high cholesterol?

According to The Independent, 38% of Stoccareddo’s men have high cholesterol, as opposed to the Italian average of 21%. View complete answer on Stoccareddo – Wikipedia

Why do Southern Italians live so long?

This is good news for Italy (and for me), considering that the Mediterranean diet is considered one of the healthiest diets in the world. Eating fresh fish, fruits and vegetables, nuts, and cooking with olive oil is typically used to explain the high life expectancy rate in Italy. View complete answer on Why Is The Life Expectancy In Italy Higher Than In The US?

Do people in Sardinia smoke?

It is also known about the tastes and habits of young Sardinian smokers that they not only smoke traditional cigarettes, but also cut tobacco (55%) and electronic cigarettes (23.5%).
View complete answer on Tobacco survey in schools in Sardinia – Press release – Eurispes

What is the healthiest city in Italy?

Pioppi, Italy is known as the world’s healthiest village because many of its residents live past the age of 100. What are the factors responsible for their remarkable longevity? A leading doctor in Britain revealed their secrets. View complete answer on Secrets of One of the World’s Healthiest Villages – Olive Oil Times

What do Italians eat for breakfast?

Cappuccino, Coffee and Croissant. A cornetto, together with an espresso or with a cappuccino becomes the joy of lots of Italians who love to have a breakfast in a café, in their favourite pastry shop or at the cafeteria just outside the office. … Bread and Jam. … Milk and Cereals. … Yoghurt and Fruit.
View complete answer on The Italian breakfast: what do Italians eat for breakfast? | Lazzaris since 1901

Are people in Italy healthy?

Italy is a country that has often been viewed as the healthiest for many years running. In fact, many people have been disputing this result because nothing is more important to Italians than their cuisine. Inhabitants of the island of Sardinia have many times held the title of the oldest living person throughout history. View complete answer on Why Are Italians So Healthy? eating secrets

Who lives the longest in Europe?

The EU region with the highest life expectancy at birth was the French island of Corsica (84.0), followed by the Balearic Islands in Spain (83.9) and the Epirus region in Greece (83.8). View complete answer on Life expectancy across EU regions in 2020 – Products Eurostat News – Eurostat

Do Italians live longer than the English?

The UK did poorly in a comparison of health outcomes in 19 countries over 20 years published in the Lancet. On life expectancy we came 14th – slipping down two places since 1990. Italy, by contrast, rose from 5th to 2nd – ahead of France, Germany, and Sweden. View complete answer on Why do Italians live longer than us? – BBC News

Why do Italians eat so late?

Italy is known for its very late meals – lunch is about 1.30pm (earliest!) and dinner depends on the season – it can be as late as 11pm! One of the reasons for such late dinners is so that the members of the family can wait for each other to come back from work and sit down at the table all together. View complete answer on Italy, carbs and late meals – Our Cooking Journey – Our Cooking Journey

What is the poorest region in Italy?

In Italy, the largest part of the population who live below the poverty line is located in the South. As of 2021, in three Southern regions, Apulia, Campania, and Calabria over 20 percent of the population was living below the poverty line. View complete answer on Italy: absolute poverty among households by region 2021| Statista

Is Sardinia or Sicily more expensive?

Both Sicily and Sardinia have numerous attractions and leisure activities. However, some are cheaper than others. Many of Sicily’s attractions, such as the ancient ruins of Agrigento and the seaside town of Taormina, are low cost or free. Sardinia’s attractions, on the other hand, tend to be pricier. View complete answer on is-sicily-cheaper-than-sardinia/ – Search

Is Sardinia more expensive than Italy?

In fact, if we think that Cagliari is one of the most expensive cities on the island, it goes without saying that living in Sardinia is much cheaper than in many other regions of Italy. View complete answer on Is Sardinia Expensive? – Cost Breakdown of Your Next Holiday

Is Italy still paying for people to move there?
Get paid to move to Italy


The municipality will pay €150 ($160) to those who move to the city for at least a year. There is a total of €400,000 available in grants from the government, with €200,000 allocated from September 2023 and €200,000 more next year. This is enough to finance 100 applications, the council said.  View complete answer on This Culture-Filled Italian City Will Pay You To Move There

Stomach-brain communication predicts emotional symptoms and well-being, study finds

3 Health Secrets to a Longer Life with Doug Batchelor and Barbara O’Neill (Amazing Facts)

U.S. Life Expectancy Study Shows Southerners Barely Living Any Longer Than Those Born In 1900

The Top 4 Megaregions of the United States | How These Regions Dominate the Country | Watch

Which States Really Have the Highest Homicide Rates, Red or Blue? The Stats Will Surprise You

15 Countries with Excellent Healthcare for Expats (And Why They’re Truly Worth Considering)

The Hearty Soul – Connect with your Spirit & live the life destined for you : The Hearty Soul

The states with the highest and lowest cancer rates in America, according to the CDC

Do you live in the state with the longest life expectancy? See the top 25, based on data.

HOW RED-STATE POLITICS ARE SHAVING YEARS OFF AMERICAN LIVES : r/Ohio

Ranking The Countries With The Longest Life Expectancies—According To Data

Scientist studied 4,330 centenarians, found two things they have in common  

Research finds people who live past 100 all have one thing in common

By 2100, lifespans will defy expectations: How long can we live🤍✨🍀

Your State Could Be Shaving Years Off Your Life — Or Adding Them

Ranking The Smartest Countries In The World—According To Data

See How Long You Were Supposed to Live Based on Your Birth Year

Global Healthcare: The 10 Best Countries to Get Treated | Watch

Best Countries To Live In 2025: What The Rankings Don’t Reveal

Discover the Countries With the Longest Life Expectancy | Watch

Why a retirement age of 74 is a bad idea, according to science

Study finds generations born after 1939 unlikely to reach 100 years of age

The Next Mass Extinction May Already Be Underway, According To Scientists

Study finds the young are the unhappiest they’ve ever been. This might be why

People in Nordic region are more satisfied than other EU citizens with big city life

A potential new Blue Zone: Region in Finland stands out for its populace’s longevity

Singapore is the world’s sixth Blue Zone—and the first designed by policy. – Search

Where in Italy do people live longest? || Drone Views of Italy’s Tuscany Region

List of Italian provinces by life expectancy – Wikipedia

Explaining The 20 Regions Of Italy – Best Things To Know

Your State Could Be Shaving Years Off Your Life – Or Adding Them

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Time limit is exhausted. Please reload the CAPTCHA.