But there's an important caveat: Monaco is a very small and very wealthy country, so its statistics aren't quite comparable to those of larger countries. Among large countries, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, and South Korea have particularly high rates.

Why do people live longer?

There's no single reason. Life expectancy is simultaneously influenced by nutrition, healthcare, income, education, physical activity, smoking, alcohol, obesity, working conditions, and the environment.

In Japan, traditionally, a diet rich in fish, vegetables, and other relatively unprocessed foods, moderate portion sizes, and a long, active life expectancy are emphasized. But it would be wrong to attribute Japanese longevity solely to food: the healthcare system, disease prevention, and social conditions also play a significant role.

In wealthy countries, people are more likely to detect hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and other problems early. And early treatment significantly reduces the risk of premature death.

What is the most common cause of death worldwide?

And here the answer may be surprising. The leading cause of death worldwide is not cancer or infections, but coronary heart disease. According to the WHO, in 2021, it accounted for approximately 9 million deaths, or about 13% of all deaths worldwide.

Coronary heart disease occurs when blood supply to the heart muscle is impaired, most often due to atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary arteries. It is the underlying cause of a large number of heart attacks. The WHO explicitly states that coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide.

More broadly, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. In 2022, approximately 19.8 million people died from them, about 32% of all deaths. Most of these deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes.

Why does the heart kill so many people?

The main risk factors are well known:

high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet, diabetes, and excessive alcohol consumption. Air pollution also plays a significant role.

A person may feel perfectly normal and not even know they already have hypertension or high cholesterol. Therefore, the danger of cardiovascular disease lies in the fact that many problems develop over years, virtually unnoticed.

The most interesting conclusion

This paradoxical conclusion: to live longer, simply “eating healthy food” is not enough. Prevention of what is currently humanity's leading killer - cardiovascular disease—is of paramount importance.

Controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular physical activity, and eating a balanced diet can significantly reduce the risk of premature death. The WHO emphasizes that a significant portion of cardiovascular diseases is preventable by modifying these risk factors.

In other words, the highest life expectancy today is found in places where people not only receive good healthcare but also, on average, maintain cardiovascular health longer.