BX7WT1 A group of middle aged and elderly Japanese people gathered around a table at a party.
Explorers throughout history have searched for the legendary fountain of youth. And while the elusive fountain has yet to be found, certain places across the world have emerged as centres where people live substantially longer than the worldwide average (around 71 years), and each has its own secret source of vitality.
BBC Travel talked to residents in some of the countries where people live the longest, as ranked by the 2017 World Happiness Report, to uncover the reasons why these places seem to nurture longevity.
In these countries, people live substantially longer than the worldwide average – and each place has its own secret source of vitality.
1. Japan
2. Spain
3. Singapore
4. Switzerland
5. South Korea
I – Word Understanding
Fountain of youth – anything that promises to restore youth and good health
Elusive – difficult to find
II – Have Your Say
What do you think makes the people in these 5 countries live longer? Let’s find their secrets:
1. Japan – (83.7 yrs) active social circles among the elderly and nutritious local diet
2. Spain – (82.8 yrs) diet rich in olive oil, vegetables and fish…and siesta
3. Singapore – (83.1 yrs) exercise at public parks and state-of-the-art medical facilities
4. Switzerland – (81 yrs) high-quality healthcare, strong personal safety and frequent relaxing escapes
5. South Korea – diet rich in fermented food. SK is set to be the first country to hit life expectancy of 90
