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The well-being of a nation is made up of a myriad of elements, ranging from the calibre of its healthcare system to the daily habits and diets of its people.

While difficult to distil into a single measure, a widely accepted measure of a population’s health is average life expectancy. Additional critical indicators include child mortality rates, along with access to vital resources like food and sanitation.

Together, these factors offer a more vivid picture of a nation’s health, which is often linked to economic strength, personal spending habits, and overall labour productivity.

A data-driven graphic from Visual Capitalist spotlights the world’s healthiest countries, ranked among major economies, based on an analysis from Ray Dalio’s Great Powers Index 2024.

The data miners ranked the health of 24 leading nations in 2024, with figures that are represented by z-scores, where the number represents how many standard deviations a country is above or below the average.

Image: Visual Capitalist / Voronoi app

Eish, South Africa! Our humble country has been ranked last on the global list, at number 24 with a score of MINUS 1.73.

That’s below the US, sitting in the middle of the pack at 13th, which is rampant with processed foods. Despite high healthcare spending per capita—at $12,600 in 2022—America falls behind in life expectancy and other critical health outcomes.

Singapore, the leading nation in health rankings, has recently been recognised as a “blue zone” — regions where centenarians thrive, boasting ten times more per capita than in the US.

Government policies, such as heavy taxation on vehicles, fuel, and road usage, encourage walkability, while tax incentives for those living close to their parents or children likely play a role in extending life expectancy across the nation.

Hot on its heels, Japan ranks second, with one of the highest life expectancies on the planet. More than half of the women born in 2023 are expected to live to the age of 90. Like Singapore, Japan hosts a blue zone, specifically in Okinawa, where residents are guided by a deep sense of purpose, or “ikigai,” and benefit from strong social networks.

Next on the list is Switzerland, where economic stability, low obesity rates, and Europe’s highest life expectancy contribute to its health ranking. In 2023, the average life expectancy reached 85.8 years for women and 82.2 for men. Switzerland also boasts unparalleled access to healthcare among affluent nations, further cementing its place among the world’s healthiest.

Shjoe, we need to do better.

[source:visualcapitalist]