According to a report by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the latest "Health at a Glance 2013" report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that the average life expectancy in Spain has reached 82.4 years, surpassing France (82.2 years), the United Kingdom (81.1 years), and Germany (80.8 years), ranking second among European countries, only behind Italy (82.7 years).
The report also indicates that from 1970 to 2011, the average life expectancy of Spaniards increased by 10 years, a growth rate second only to Switzerland, Japan, and Italy. In terms of gender, the average life expectancy for Spanish women is 5 years higher than that of men. The report also notes that although the statistics were provided by the Spanish Ministry of Health in 2011, they reflect, to a certain extent, the generally good health status of the Spanish population.
In addition, the report shows that for the first time in history, the average life expectancy of the population in all OECD member countries has exceeded 80 years (80.1). However, among all 34 member countries, there are still 16 countries where the average life expectancy has not reached this average, including major nations such as the United States (78.7 years) and Russia (69 years).