The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) announced on Wednesday that life expectancy at birth in Türkiye has decreased slightly to 77.3 years for the 2021-2023 period, compared to 77.5 years in the previous period.

This metric reflects the average number of years a newborn is expected to live, given current mortality risks. The data also reveals a persistent gender gap, with women living, on average, 5.3 years longer than men.

For men, life expectancy at birth fell from 74.8 to 74.7 years, while for women, it declined from 80.3 to 80 years. Despite these decreases, the gap between the sexes remains significant, with women generally outliving men.

Life expectancy at various ages also reflects these trends. At age 15, for example, a person in Türkiye is expected to live an additional 63.5 years. For men, this number is 60.9 years, and for women, it is 66.1 years. At age 30, the average remaining life span is 49.1 years, with men expected to live another 46.6 years and women 51.5 years. At age 50, people can expect to live another 30.1 years—27.8 years for men and 32.3 years for women. By age 65, women can expect to live 19 more years, while men have a remaining life expectancy of 15.7 years.

Geographically, life expectancy varies across Türkiye. The province with the highest life expectancy is Tunceli, where the average is 80.8 years. Şırnak and Mardin follow closely behind at 79.7 years. In contrast, Kilis has the lowest life expectancy at 76.1 years, with Gaziantep and Adana just above it at 76.2 and 76.8 years, respectively. For men, Tunceli again tops the list with a life expectancy of 78.1 years, while Kilis records the lowest at 73.2 years. For women, Tunceli leads with an average life expectancy of 83.6 years, while Gaziantep has the lowest at 78.7 years.

Major cities also show distinct trends. In Istanbul, the largest city in the country, life expectancy is 78.6 years, higher than the national average. Men in Istanbul have a life expectancy of 75.8 years, while women are expected to live 81.3 years. In Ankara, life expectancy is slightly higher, at 79.2 years, with men expected to live 76.5 years and women 81.8 years.

The data also highlights the impact of education on life expectancy. Individuals with higher levels of education tend to live longer. At age 30, those with tertiary education are expected to live around five years longer than those with less than upper secondary education. This trend is evident in both men and women, underscoring the significant role education plays in determining longevity.

In conclusion, while life expectancy in Türkiye remains relatively high, there are clear disparities based on gender, geography, and education. Women consistently live longer than men, and those with higher education levels enjoy longer life spans. Additionally, the data shows significant regional differences, with certain provinces experiencing lower life expectancy than others. (ILKHA)