Longevity · Foundations
Healthspan vs lifespan
Lifespan is how long you live; healthspan is how long you live in good health. Why the gap matters and how healthy life expectancy is measured.
Written by LON6EVITY Editorial Team · Last updated
Two different measures
Lifespan (or life expectancy) counts total years of life. Healthspan describes the years lived in good health, free of serious disease or disability. The two can differ by many years.
How it is measured
At population level the WHO reports healthy life expectancy (HALE): the average number of years a person can expect to live in full health, taking into account years lived with disease or injury. HALE is always lower than total life expectancy.
Why the gap matters
Much of the time spent in poor health late in life is linked to chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and musculoskeletal and cognitive decline. Many of their risk factors can be measured and influenced earlier in life, which is the main idea behind preventive health.
Factors that can affect the result
- Chronic disease burden
- Physical function
- Risk factor control
Related topics
Build your longevity profile
What does this mean for your own health data? Log your results, follow trends over time and bring an organised summary to your next doctor's appointment.
Sources
- Healthy life expectancy (HALE) at birth. WHO Global Health Observatory.
- Ageing and health — fact sheet. WHO.