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    Healthy life expectancy

    This section presents information on healthy life expectancy, also named health expectancy. A health expectancy identifies the number of years a person can be expected to live in good health. Therefore, the emphasis is not exclusively on the length of life as in the case of life expectancy, but also on the quality of life. Health expectancies address the question, for instance, whether an increase in life expectancy is accompanied by an increase in the time lived in good health.

    As there are many ways to measure health, there are many health expectancies. Here we present data on the EU structural indicator Healthy Life Years (HLY), and on the Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE) indicator used by WHO.

    The EU structural indicator HLY is based on the measurement of health-related limitations in daily activities. It identifies the average number of years people can expect to live without health-related activity limitations. For more information see the remarks included under the tables and figures (source: EHEMU, Eurostat).

    The WHO indicator HALE is based on estimates of the prevalence of disability and on a weighting of the severity of these disabilities. It identifies the number of years people can expect to live without disability, using the aforementioned calculation method (source: WHO-HFA).

    Since the HALE and HLY calculations use different basic data, assumptions and methodologies, their outcomes are different. HALE calculations are considerably more complex and data-needy than HLY calculations.

      Status

        This EUphact is limited to data presentations of EC Health Indicators.

        It has been peer reviewed by one reviewer.

          Data presentation
          9 December 2009
          Healthy life expectancy
          Figures, underlying data and maps
          Healthy Life Years Trends in Healthy Life Years HALE

          Healthy Life Years

          Figures and Underlying Data

          TableHealthy Life Years at birth and at age 65 for men and women in the EU-27, Iceland and Norway, 2005

          TableHealthy Life Years as a percentage of Life Expectancy at birth and at age 65 for men and women in the EU-27, Iceland and Norway, 2005

          ChartHealthy Life Years at birth for men and women in selected countries, 2005 (interactive)

          ChartHealthy Life Years at age 65 for men and women in selected countries, 2005 (interactive)

          ChartHealthy Life Years as a percentage of Life Expectancy at birth for men and women in selected countries, 2005 (interactive)

          ChartHealthy Life Years as a percentage of Life Expectancy at age 65 for men and women in selected countries, 2005 (interactive)

          More data presentation on this topic can be found in healthindicators.eu.

          Maps

          MapTrend in healthy life expectancy (HLY) at birth and at age 65 for men and women in the EU-27, 1995-2005 (interactive- click on Indicators to select desired topic)

          Trends in Healthy Life Years

          Figures and Underlying Data

          TableTrend in Healthy LIfe Years at birth for men in Norway and the EU-27, 1995-2003

          TableTrend in Healthy LIfe Years at birth for women in Norway and the EU-27, 1995-2003

          ChartTrend in Healthy Life Years at birth for men in selected countries, 1995-2003 (interactive)

          ChartTrend in Healthy Life Years at birth for women in selected countries, 1995-2003 (interactive)

          ChartTrend in Healthy Life Years at age 65 for men in selected countries, 1995-2003 (interactive)

          ChartTrend in Healthy Life Years at age 65 for women in selected countries, 1995-2003 (interactive)

          ChartTrend in Healthy Life Years as a percentage of Life Expectancy at birth for men in selected countries, 1995-2003 (interactive)

          ChartTrend in Healthy Life Years as a percentage of Life Expectancy at birth for women in selected countries, 1995-2003 (interactive)

          Maps

          HALE

          Figures and Underlying Data

          TableHealth-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) for men, women and the total population in Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the EU-27, 2002

          ChartHealth-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) for men, women and the total population in Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the EU-27, 2002 (interactive)

          Maps
          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy

          Healthy Life Years in absolute values at birth and at age 65 for men and women in the EU-271, Iceland and Norway, 2005 (source: Eurostat, 2008)

          At birth

          Age 65

          At birth

          Age 65

          male

          female

          male

          female

          male

          female

          male

          female

          Austria

          57.8

          59.6

          6.7

          6.6

          Latvia

          50.6

          53.1

          5.0

          5.4

          Belgium

          61.7

          61.9

          9.1

          9.5

          Lithuania

          51.2

          54.3

          5.1

          4.3

          Cyprus

          59.5

          57.9

          6.7

          4.8

          Luxembourg

          62.2

          62.1

          9.3

          9.2

          Czech Republic

          57.9

          59.9

          6.5

          6.9

          Malta

          68.5

          70.1

          10.5

          11.1

          Denmark

          68.4

          68.2

          13.1

          14.1

          Netherlands

          65.0

          63.1

          10.4

          10.9

          Estonia

          48.0

          52.2

          3.4

          3.4

          Norway

          65.5

          63.6

          12.2

          11.8

          Finland

          51.7

          52.4

          6.2

          6.5

          Poland

          61.0

          66.6

          8.3

          10.1

          France

          62.0

          64.3

          8.2

          9.4

          Portugal

          58.4

          56.7

          6.2

          5.1

          Germany

          55.0

          55.1

          6.5

          5.9

          Slovakia

          54.9

          56.4

          4.8

          5.3

          Greece

          65.7

          67.2

          9.5

          9.9

          Slovenia

          56.3

          59.9

          7.4

          8.5

          Hungary

          52.0

          53.9

          5.0

          5.0

          Spain

          63.2

          63.1

          9.6

          9.1

          Iceland

          66.9

          64.5

          12.2

          12.1

          Sweden

          64.2

          63.1

          10.5

          10.9

          Ireland

          62.9

          64.1

          9.1

          9.9

          United Kingdom

          63.2

          65.0

          10.3

          11.1

          Italy

          65.8

          67.0

          9.4

          9.7

          1 No data available for Bulgaria and Romania.

          Remarks

          The Healthy Life Years (HLY) indicator measures the number of remaining years that a person of a specific age is still expected to live in a healthy condition. In the case of the Eurostat HLY, a healthy condition is defined by the absence of limitations in functioning/disability.

          HLY is calculated using detailsSullivan's method which combines information on mortality and morbidity. Information on mortality is taken from life tables. Information on morbidity is based on prevalence measures, i.e. the age specific proportion of the population in healthy and unhealthy conditions.

          The following question, taken from the annual European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions survey (detailsEU-SILC), has been used for obtaining data on the prevalence of morbidiy for the year 2004 and onwards for EU-15 old Member States and from 2005 onwards for EU-10 new Member States:

          For at least the last six months, to what extent have you been limited because of a health problem in activities people usually do? Would you say you have been:

          • severely limited;
          • limited but not severely;
          • not limited.

          Only the third category (i.e. not limited) is used to calculate HLY. Due to some differences in the question used in the Danish SILC, data for Denmark should be interpreted with caution.

          Trend data for the years 1995-2001 for EU-15 Member States (excl. Luxembourg) were obtained from the ECHP (European Community Household Panel). For trends see: Figures, underlying data and maps.

          For more information on HLY see:

          EHEMU (European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit)

          Also see:

          Eurostat Metadata Healthy Life Years Expectancy: Summary Methodology

          Eurostat Metadata Income and Living Conditions: Base Page

          Healthy Life Years in the core of the Lisbon Strategy (by DG SANCO)

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy

          Healthy Life Years as a percentage of Life Expectancy at birth and at age 65 for men and women in the EU-271, Iceland and Norway, 2005 (Eurostat, 2008)

          At birth

          Age 65

          At birth

          Age 65

          male

          female

          male

          female

          male

          female

          male

          female

          Austria

          75.4

          72.4

          39.5

          32.6

          Lithuania

          78.3

          70.2

          39.0

          24.4

          Belgium

          80.9

          75.7

          55.2

          46.8

          Luxembourg

          81.2

          75.5

          55.9

          45.0

          Cyprus

          77.5

          71.4

          39.8

          25.1

          Malta

          88.6

          86.2

          64.6

          57.2

          Czech Republic

          79.4

          75.5

          44.8

          38.8

          Netherlands

          84.1

          77.2

          63.1

          54.1

          Denmark

          90.1

          84.7

          81.3

          73.8

          Norway

          84.2

          76.9

          70.7

          56.5

          Estonia

          71.3

          66.7

          26.1

          19.1

          Poland

          86.2

          84.0

          58.3

          54.7

          Finland

          68.3

          63.5

          37.1

          31.2

          Portugal

          77.9

          69.8

          38.7

          26.3

          Germany

          71.7

          67.1

          38.2

          29.4

          Slovakia

          78.3

          72.2

          36.2

          31.3

          Greece

          85.5

          82.3

          55.5

          51.7

          Slovenia

          76.1

          74.0

          49.0

          44.4

          Hungary

          75.8

          69.9

          37.5

          29.0

          Spain

          82.1

          75.5

          55.7

          42.6

          Iceland

          84.1

          77.2

          66.3

          57.6

          Sweden

          81.8

          76.1

          59.9

          52.5

          Ireland

          81.4

          78.4

          54.1

          49.5

          United Kingdom

          82.0

          80.1

          60.7

          56.7

          Latvia

          77.4

          69.4

          40.3

          31.6

          1 No data available for Bulgaria, France, Italy and Romania.

          Remarks

          The Healthy Life Years (HLY) as a percentage of life expectancy is an important indicator about the quality of life. It makes it possible to assess whether an increase in life expectancy is accompanied by an increase in the number of years lived in good health.

          The Healthy Life Years indicator measures the number of remaining years that a person of a specific age is still expected to live in a healthy condition. In the case of the Eurostat HLY, a healthy condition is defined by the absence of limitations in functioning/disability.

          HLY is calculated using detailsSullivan's method which combines information on mortality and morbidity. Information on mortality is taken from life tables. Information on morbidity is based on prevalence measures, i.e. the age specific proportion of the population in healthy and unhealthy conditions.

          The following question, taken from the annual European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions survey (detailsEU-SILC), has been used for obtaining data on the prevalence of morbidiy for the year 2004 and onwards for EU-15 old Member States and from 2005 onwards for EU-10 new Member States:

          For at least the last six months, to what extent have you been limited because of a health problem in activities people usually do? Would you say you have been:

          • severely limited;
          • limited but not severely;
          • not limited.

          Only the third category (i.e. not limited) is used to calculate HLY. Due to some differences in the question used in the Danish SILC, data for Denmark should be interpreted with caution.

          Trend data for the years 1995-2001 for EU-15 Member States (excl. Luxembourg) were obtained from the ECHP (European Community Household Panel). For trends see: Figures, underlying data and maps.

          For more information on HLY see:

          EHEMU (European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit)

          Also see:

          Eurostat Metadata Healthy Life Years Expectancy: Summary Methodology

          Eurostat Metadata Income and Living Conditions: Base Page

          Healthy Life Years in the core of the Lisbon Strategy (by DG SANCO)

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy

          Remarks

          The Healthy Life Years (HLY) indicator measures the number of remaining years that a person of a specific age is still expected to live in a healthy condition. In the case of the Eurostat HLY, a healthy condition is defined by the absence of limitations in functioning/disability.

          HLY is calculated using detailsSullivan's method which combines information on mortality and morbidity. Information on mortality is taken from life tables. Information on morbidity is based on prevalence measures, i.e. the age specific proportion of the population in healthy and unhealthy conditions.

          The following question, taken from the annual European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions survey (detailsEU-SILC), has been used for obtaining data on the prevalence of morbidiy for the year 2004 and onwards for EU-15 old Member States and from 2005 onwards for EU-10 new Member States:

          For at least the last six months, to what extent have you been limited because of a health problem in activities people usually do? Would you say you have been:

          • severely limited;
          • limited but not severely;
          • not limited.

          Only the third category (i.e. not limited) is used to calculate HLY. Due to some differences in the question used in the Danish SILC, data for Denmark should be interpreted with caution.

          Trend data for the years 1995-2001 for EU-15 Member States (excl. Luxembourg) were obtained from the ECHP (European Community Household Panel). For trends see: Figures, underlying data and maps.

          For more information on HLY see:

          EHEMU (European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit)

          Also see:

          Eurostat Metadata Healthy Life Years Expectancy: Summary Methodology

          Eurostat Metadata Income and Living Conditions: Base Page

          Healthy Life Years in the core of the Lisbon Strategy (by DG SANCO)

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy

          Remarks

          The Healthy Life Years (HLY) indicator measures the number of remaining years that a person of a specific age is still expected to live in a healthy condition. In the case of the Eurostat HLY, a healthy condition is defined by the absence of limitations in functioning/disability.

          HLY is calculated using detailsSullivan's method which combines information on mortality and morbidity. Information on mortality is taken from life tables. Information on morbidity is based on prevalence measures, i.e. the age specific proportion of the population in healthy and unhealthy conditions.

          The following question, taken from the annual European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions survey (detailsEU-SILC), has been used for obtaining data on the prevalence of morbidiy for the year 2004 and onwards for EU-15 old Member States and from 2005 onwards for EU-10 new Member States:

          For at least the last six months, to what extent have you been limited because of a health problem in activities people usually do? Would you say you have been:

          • severely limited;
          • limited but not severely;
          • not limited.

          Only the third category (i.e. not limited) is used to calculate HLY. Due to some differences in the question used in the Danish SILC, data for Denmark should be interpreted with caution.

          Trend data for the years 1995-2001 for EU-15 Member States (excl. Luxembourg) were obtained from the ECHP (European Community Household Panel). For trends see: Figures, underlying data and maps.

          For more information on HLY see:

          EHEMU (European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit)

          Also see:

          Eurostat Metadata Healthy Life Years Expectancy: Summary Methodology

          Eurostat Metadata Income and Living Conditions: Base Page

          Healthy Life Years in the core of the Lisbon Strategy (by DG SANCO)

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy

          Remarks

          The Healthy Life Years (HLY) as a percentage of life expectancy is an important indicator about the quality of life. It makes it possible to assess whether an increase in life expectancy is accompanied by an increase in the number of years lived in good health.

          The Healthy Life Years indicator measures the number of remaining years that a person of a specific age is still expected to live in a healthy condition. In the case of the Eurostat HLY, a healthy condition is defined by the absence of limitations in functioning/disability.

          HLY is calculated using detailsSullivan's method which combines information on mortality and morbidity. Information on mortality is taken from life tables. Information on morbidity is based on prevalence measures, i.e. the age specific proportion of the population in healthy and unhealthy conditions.

          The following question, taken from the annual European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions survey (detailsEU-SILC), has been used for obtaining data on the prevalence of morbidiy for the year 2004 and onwards for EU-15 old Member States and from 2005 onwards for EU-10 new Member States:

          For at least the last six months, to what extent have you been limited because of a health problem in activities people usually do? Would you say you have been:

          • severely limited;
          • limited but not severely;
          • not limited.

          Only the third category (i.e. not limited) is used to calculate HLY. Due to some differences in the question used in the Danish SILC, data for Denmark should be interpreted with caution.

          Trend data for the years 1995-2001 for EU-15 Member States (excl. Luxembourg) were obtained from the ECHP (European Community Household Panel). For trends see: Figures, underlying data and maps.

          For more information on HLY see:

          EHEMU (European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit)

          Also see:

          Eurostat Metadata Healthy Life Years Expectancy: Summary Methodology

          Eurostat Metadata Income and Living Conditions: Base Page

          Healthy Life Years in the core of the Lisbon Strategy (by DG SANCO)

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy

          Remarks

          The Healthy Life Years (HLY) as a percentage of life expectancy is an important indicator about the quality of life. It makes it possible to assess whether an increase in life expectancy is accompanied by an increase in the number of years lived in good health.

          The Healthy Life Years indicator measures the number of remaining years that a person of a specific age is still expected to live in a healthy condition. In the case of the Eurostat HLY, a healthy condition is defined by the absence of limitations in functioning/disability.

          HLY is calculated using detailsSullivan's method which combines information on mortality and morbidity. Information on mortality is taken from life tables. Information on morbidity is based on prevalence measures, i.e. the age specific proportion of the population in healthy and unhealthy conditions.

          The following question, taken from the annual European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions survey (detailsEU-SILC), has been used for obtaining data on the prevalence of morbidiy for the year 2004 and onwards for EU-15 old Member States and from 2005 onwards for EU-10 new Member States:

          For at least the last six months, to what extent have you been limited because of a health problem in activities people usually do? Would you say you have been:

          • severely limited;
          • limited but not severely;
          • not limited.

          Only the third category (i.e. not limited) is used to calculate HLY. Due to some differences in the question used in the Danish SILC, data for Denmark should be interpreted with caution.

          Trend data for the years 1995-2001 for EU-15 Member States (excl. Luxembourg) were obtained from the ECHP (European Community Household Panel). For trends see: Figures, underlying data and maps.

          For more information on HLY see:

          EHEMU (European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit)

          Also see:

          Eurostat Metadata Healthy Life Years Expectancy: Summary Methodology

          Eurostat Metadata Income and Living Conditions: Base Page

          Healthy Life Years in the core of the Lisbon Strategy (by DG SANCO)

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy

          Trend in Healthy Life Years in absolute values at birth for men in Norway and the EU-27, 1995-2003 (Eurostat, 2007)

          1995

          1996

          1997

          1998

          1999

          2000

          2001

          2002

          2003

          Austria

          60

          62.3

          62.2

          63.4

          63.6

          64.6

          64.2

          65.6e

          66.2e

          Belgium

          63.3

          64.1

          66.5

          63.3

          66

          65.7

          66.6

          66.9e

          67.4e

          Cyprus

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          68.4

          Czech Republic

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          62.8p

          -

          Denmark

          61.6

          61.7

          61.6

          62.4

          62.5

          62.9

          62.2

          62.8e

          63.0e

          Finland

          -

          54.6

          55.5

          55.9

          55.8

          56.3

          56.7

          57.0e

          57.3e

          France

          60

          59.6

          60.2

          59.2

          60.1

          60.1

          60.5

          60.4e

          60.6e

          Germany

          60

          60.8

          61.9e

          62.1e

          62.3e

          63.2e

          64.1e

          64.4e

          65.0e

          Greece

          65.8

          66.9

          66.4

          66.5

          66.7

          66.3

          66.7

          66.7e

          66.7e

          Hungary

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          53.5p

          Ireland

          63.2

          64

          63.2

          64

          63.9

          63.3

          63.3

          63.5e

          63.4e

          Italy

          66.7

          67.4

          68

          67.9

          68.7

          69.7

          69.8

          70.4e

          70.9e

          Malta

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          65.1p

          -

          Netherlands

          61.1

          62.1

          62.5

          61.9

          61.6

          61.4

          61.9

          61.7e

          61.7e

          Norway

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          66.3p

          Poland

          -

          59.9

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          62.5

          -

          Portugal

          59.6

          58.2

          59.3

          59.1

          58.8

          60.2

          59.5

          59.7e

          59.8e

          Spain

          64.2

          65.1

          65.5

          65.2

          65.6

          66.5

          66

          66.6e

          66.8e

          Sweden

          -

          -

          62.1

          61.7

          62

          63.1

          61.9

          62.4e

          62.5e

          United Kingdom

          60.6

          60.8

          60.9e

          60.8e

          61.2e

          61.3e

          61.1e

          61.4e

          61.5e

          EU-15

          -

          -

          -

          -

          63.2e

          63.5e

          63.6e

          64.3e

          64.5e

          Countries for which data were unavailable are not shown.

          - : no data available

          e estimated value

          p provisional value

          Remarks

          The Healthy Life Years (HLY) indicator measures the number of remaining years that a person of a specific age is still expected to live in a healthy condition. In the case of the Eurostat HLY, a healthy condition is defined by the absence of limitations in functioning/disability.

          HLY is calculated using Sullivan's method, which combines information on mortality and morbidity. Information on mortality is taken from life tables. Information on morbidity is based on prevalence measures, such as the age specific proportion of the population in healthy and unhealthy conditions.

          Data were obtained from the ECHP (European Community Household Panel) for the years 1995-2001 for EU-15 Member States (excl. Luxembourg). The ECHP used the following two questions for obtaining data on the prevalence of limitations in functioning:
          • Do you have any chronic physical or mental health problem, illness or disability?
          And if the answer is yes:
          • Are you hampered in your daily activities by this physical or mental health problem, illness or disability?

          For 2002-2003 the prevalence data are estimated on the basis of the trend from 1995-2001. In the case of the new Member States and EFTA countries national sources were used when comparable.

          For more information on HLY see:

          EHEMU (European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit)

          Also see:

          Eurostat Metadata Healthy Life Years Expectancy: Summary Methodology

          Eurostat Metadata Income and Living Conditions: Base Page

          Healthy Life Years in the core of the Lisbon Strategy (by DG SANCO)

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy

          Trend in Healthy Life Years in absolute values at birth for women in Norway and the EU-27, 1995-2003 (Eurostat, 2007)

          1995

          1996

          1997

          1998

          1999

          2000

          2001

          2002

          2003

          Austria

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          68

          68.5

          69.0e

          69.6e

          Belgium

          66.4

          68.5e

          68.3

          65.4e

          68.4

          69.1

          68.8

          69.0e

          69.2e

          Cyprus

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          69.6

          Czech Republic

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          63.3p

          -

          Denmark

          60.7

          61.1

          60.7e

          61.3e

          60.8

          61.9

          60.4

          61.0e

          60.9e

          Finland

          -

          57.7

          57.6

          58.3

          57.4

          56.8e

          56.9

          56.8e

          56.5e

          France

          62.4

          62.5

          63.1

          62.8

          63.3

          63.2e

          63.3

          63.7e

          63.9e

          Germany

          64.3

          64.5

          64.3e

          64.3e

          64.3e

          64.6e

          64.5e

          64.5e

          64.7e

          Greece

          69.2e

          69.6

          68.7

          68.3

          69.4

          68.2

          68.8

          68.5e

          68.4e

          Hungary

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          57.8p

          Ireland

          -

          -

          -

          -

          67.6

          66.9

          66.5

          65.9e

          65.4e

          Italy

          70

          70.5e

          71.3

          71.3

          72.1

          72.9

          73.0e

          73.9e

          74.4e

          Malta

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          65.7p

          -

          Netherlands

          62.1e

          61.5

          61.4

          61.1e

          61.4

          60.2

          59.4

          59.3e

          58.8e

          Norway

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          64.2p

          Poland

          -

          66.8

          -

          -

          -

          -

          -

          68.9

          -

          Portugal

          63.1

          60.5

          60.4

          61.1

          60.7

          62.2

          62.7

          61.8e

          61.8e

          Spain

          67.7

          68.4

          68.2

          68.2

          69.5

          69.3

          69.2e

          69.9e

          70.2e

          Sweden

          -

          -

          60

          61.3e

          61.8

          61.9

          61

          61.9e

          62.2e

          United Kingdom

          61.2

          61.8e

          61.2e

          62.2e

          61.3e

          61.2e

          60.8e

          60.9e

          60.9e

          EU-15

          -

          -

          -

          -

          63.9e

          64.4e

          65.0e

          65.8e

          66.0e

          Countries for which data were unavailable are not shown.

          - : no data available

          e estimated value

          p provisional value

          Remarks

          The Healthy Life Years (HLY) indicator measures the number of remaining years that a person of a specific age is still expected to live in a healthy condition. In the case of the Eurostat HLY, a healthy condition is defined by the absence of limitations in functioning/disability.

          HLY is calculated using Sullivan's method, which combines information on mortality and morbidity. Information on mortality is taken from life tables. Information on morbidity is based on prevalence measures, such as the age specific proportion of the population in healthy and unhealthy conditions.

          Data were obtained from the ECHP (European Community Household Panel) for the years 1995-2001 for EU-15 Member States (excl. Luxembourg). The ECHP used the following two questions for obtaining data on the prevalence of limitations in functioning:
          • Do you have any chronic physical or mental health problem, illness or disability?
          And if the answer is yes:
          • Are you hampered in your daily activities by this physical or mental health problem, illness or disability?

          For 2002-2003 the prevalence data are estimated on the basis of the trend from 1995-2001. In the case of the new Member States and EFTA countries national sources were used when comparable.

          For more information on HLY see:

          EHEMU (European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit)

          Also see:

          Eurostat Metadata Healthy Life Years Expectancy: Summary Methodology

          Eurostat Metadata Income and Living Conditions: Base Page

          Healthy Life Years in the core of the Lisbon Strategy (by DG SANCO)

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy
          Remarks

          Remarks

          The Healthy Life Years (HLY) indicator measures the number of remaining years that a person of a specific age is still expected to live in a healthy condition. In the case of the Eurostat HLY, a healthy condition is defined by the absence of limitations in functioning/disability.

          HLY is calculated using Sullivan's method, which combines information on mortality and morbidity. Information on mortality is taken from life tables. Information on morbidity is based on prevalence measures, such as the age specific proportion of the population in healthy and unhealthy conditions.

          Data were obtained from the ECHP (European Community Household Panel) for the years 1995-2001 for EU-15 Member States (excl. Luxembourg). The ECHP used the following two questions for obtaining data on the prevalence of limitations in functioning:
          • Do you have any chronic physical or mental health problem, illness or disability?
          And if the answer is yes:
          • Are you hampered in your daily activities by this physical or mental health problem, illness or disability?

          For 2002-2003 the prevalence data are estimated on the basis of the trend from 1995-2001. In the case of the new Member States and EFTA countries national sources were used when comparable.

          For more information on HLY see:

          EHEMU (European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit)

          Also see:

          Eurostat Metadata Healthy Life Years Expectancy: Summary Methodology

          Eurostat Metadata Income and Living Conditions: Base Page

          Healthy Life Years in the core of the Lisbon Strategy (by DG SANCO)

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy

          Remarks

          The Healthy Life Years (HLY) indicator measures the number of remaining years that a person of a specific age is still expected to live in a healthy condition. In the case of the Eurostat HLY, a healthy condition is defined by the absence of limitations in functioning/disability.

          HLY is calculated using Sullivan's method, which combines information on mortality and morbidity. Information on mortality is taken from life tables. Information on morbidity is based on prevalence measures, such as the age specific proportion of the population in healthy and unhealthy conditions.

          Data were obtained from the ECHP (European Community Household Panel) for the years 1995-2001 for EU-15 Member States (excl. Luxembourg). The ECHP used the following two questions for obtaining data on the prevalence of limitations in functioning:
          • Do you have any chronic physical or mental health problem, illness or disability?
          And if the answer is yes:
          • Are you hampered in your daily activities by this physical or mental health problem, illness or disability?

          For 2002-2003 the prevalence data are estimated on the basis of the trend from 1995-2001. In the case of the new Member States and EFTA countries national sources were used when comparable.

          For more information on HLY see:

          EHEMU (European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit)

          Also see:

          Eurostat Metadata Healthy Life Years Expectancy: Summary Methodology

          Eurostat Metadata Income and Living Conditions: Base Page

          Healthy Life Years in the core of the Lisbon Strategy (by DG SANCO)

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy

          Remarks

          The Healthy Life Years (HLY) indicator measures the number of remaining years that a person of a specific age is still expected to live in a healthy condition. In the case of the Eurostat HLY, a healthy condition is defined by the absence of limitations in functioning/disability.

          HLY is calculated using Sullivan's method, which combines information on mortality and morbidity. Information on mortality is taken from life tables. Information on morbidity is based on prevalence measures, such as the age specific proportion of the population in healthy and unhealthy conditions.

          Data were obtained from the ECHP (European Community Household Panel) for the years 1995-2001 for EU-15 Member States (excl. Luxembourg). The ECHP used the following two questions for obtaining data on the prevalence of limitations in functioning:
          • Do you have any chronic physical or mental health problem, illness or disability?
          And if the answer is yes:
          • Are you hampered in your daily activities by this physical or mental health problem, illness or disability?

          For 2002-2003 the prevalence data are estimated on the basis of the trend from 1995-2001. In the case of the new Member States and EFTA countries national sources were used when comparable.

          For more information on HLY see:

          EHEMU (European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit)

          Also see:

          Eurostat Metadata Healthy Life Years Expectancy: Summary Methodology

          Eurostat Metadata Income and Living Conditions: Base Page

          Healthy Life Years in the core of the Lisbon Strategy (by DG SANCO)

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy

          Remarks

          The Healthy Life Years (HLY) indicator measures the number of remaining years that a person of a specific age is still expected to live in a healthy condition. In the case of the Eurostat HLY, a healthy condition is defined by the absence of limitations in functioning/disability.

          HLY is calculated using Sullivan's method, which combines information on mortality and morbidity. Information on mortality is taken from life tables. Information on morbidity is based on prevalence measures, such as the age specific proportion of the population in healthy and unhealthy conditions.

          Data were obtained from the ECHP (European Community Household Panel) for the years 1995-2001 for EU-15 Member States (excl. Luxembourg). The ECHP used the following two questions for obtaining data on the prevalence of limitations in functioning:
          • Do you have any chronic physical or mental health problem, illness or disability?
          And if the answer is yes:
          • Are you hampered in your daily activities by this physical or mental health problem, illness or disability?

          For 2002-2003 the prevalence data are estimated on the basis of the trend from 1995-2001. In the case of the new Member States and EFTA countries national sources were used when comparable.

          For more information on HLY see:

          EHEMU (European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit)

          Also see:

          Eurostat Metadata Healthy Life Years Expectancy: Summary Methodology

          Eurostat Metadata Income and Living Conditions: Base Page

          Healthy Life Years in the core of the Lisbon Strategy (by DG SANCO)

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy
          Remarks

          Remarks

          The Healthy Life Years (HLY) as a percentage of life expectancy is an important indicator about the quality of life. It makes it possible to assess whether an increase in life expectancy is accompanied by an increase in the number of years lived in good health.

          The Healthy Life Years indicator measures the number of remaining years that a person of a specific age is still expected to live in a healthy condition. In the case of the Eurostat HLY, a healthy condition is defined by the absence of limitations in functioning/disability.

          HLY is calculated using Sullivan's method, which combines information on mortality and morbidity. Information on mortality is taken from life tables. Information on morbidity is based on prevalence measures, such as the age specific proportion of the population in healthy and unhealthy conditions.

          Data were obtained from the ECHP (European Community Household Panel) for the years 1995-2001 for EU-15 Member States (excl. Luxembourg). The ECHP used the following two questions for obtaining data on the prevalence of limitations in functioning:
          • Do you have any chronic physical or mental health problem, illness or disability?
          And if the answer is yes:
          • Are you hampered in your daily activities by this physical or mental health problem, illness or disability?

          For 2002-2003 the prevalence data are estimated on the basis of the trend from 1995-2001. In the case of the new Member States and EFTA countries national sources were used when comparable.

          For more information on HLY see:

          EHEMU (European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit)

          Also see:

          Eurostat Metadata Healthy Life Years Expectancy: Summary Methodology

          Eurostat Metadata Income and Living Conditions: Base Page

          Healthy Life Years in the core of the Lisbon Strategy (by DG SANCO)

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy

          Remarks

          The Healthy Life Years (HLY) as a percentage of life expectancy is an important indicator about the quality of life. It makes it possible to assess whether an increase in life expectancy is accompanied by an increase in the number of years lived in good health.

          The Healthy Life Years indicator measures the number of remaining years that a person of a specific age is still expected to live in a healthy condition. In the case of the Eurostat HLY, a healthy condition is defined by the absence of limitations in functioning/disability.

          HLY is calculated using Sullivan's method, which combines information on mortality and morbidity. Information on mortality is taken from life tables. Information on morbidity is based on prevalence measures, such as the age specific proportion of the population in healthy and unhealthy conditions.

          Data were obtained from the ECHP (European Community Household Panel) for the years 1995-2001 for EU-15 Member States (excl. Luxembourg). The ECHP used the following two questions for obtaining data on the prevalence of limitations in functioning:
          • Do you have any chronic physical or mental health problem, illness or disability?
          And if the answer is yes:
          • Are you hampered in your daily activities by this physical or mental health problem, illness or disability?

          For 2002-2003 the prevalence data are estimated on the basis of the trend from 1995-2001. In the case of the new Member States and EFTA countries national sources were used when comparable.

          For more information on HLY see:

          EHEMU (European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit)

          Also see:

          Eurostat Metadata Healthy Life Years Expectancy: Summary Methodology

          Eurostat Metadata Income and Living Conditions: Base Page

          Healthy Life Years in the core of the Lisbon Strategy (by DG SANCO)

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy

          Health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) at birth for men, women and the total population in Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the EU-27, 2002 (source: WHO-HFA, 2007)

          Male

          Female

          Total

          Male

          Female

          Total

          Austria

          69.3

          73.5

          71.4

          Lithuania

          58.9

          67.7

          63.3

          Belgium

          68.9

          73.3

          71.1

          Luxembourg

          69.3

          73.7

          71.5

          Bulgaria

          62.5

          66.8

          64.6

          Malta

          69.7

          72.3

          71.0

          Cyprus

          66.7

          68.5

          67.6

          Netherlands

          69.7

          72.6

          71.2

          Czech Republic

          65.9

          70.9

          68.4

          Norway

          70.4

          73.6

          72.0

          Denmark

          68.6

          71.1

          69.8

          Poland

          63.1

          68.5

          65.8

          Estonia

          59.2

          69.0

          64.1

          Portugal

          66.7

          71.7

          69.2

          Finland

          68.7

          73.5

          71.1

          Romania

          61.0

          65.2

          63.1

          France

          69.3

          74.7

          72.0

          Slovakia

          63.0

          69.4

          66.2

          Germany

          69.6

          74.0

          71.8

          Slovenia

          66.6

          72.3

          69.5

          Greece

          69.1

          72.9

          71.0

          Spain

          69.9

          75.3

          72.6

          Hungary

          61.5

          68.2

          64.9

          Sweden

          71.9

          74.8

          73.3

          Iceland

          72.1

          73.6

          72.8

          Switzerland

          71.1

          75.3

          73.2

          Ireland

          68.1

          71.5

          69.8

          United Kingdom

          69.1

          72.1

          70.6

          Italy

          70.7

          74.7

          72.7

          EU-27

          -

          -

          70.3

          Latvia

          58.0

          67.5

          62.8

          EU-15

          -

          -

          71.7

          - : no data available

          Remarks

          Health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) is the average number of years that a person can expect to live in full health. HALE is calculated by subtracting from the life expectancy the average number of years in ill-health weighted for severity of the health problem.

          WHO uses life tables and Sullivan's method to compute the HALE for countries. Briefly, HALE is estimated using three sources of information: the fraction of the population surviving to each age, calculated from birth and death rates; the prevalence of each type of disability at each age; and the weight assigned to each type of disability, which may or may not vary with age (WHO, 2000c). For more information see: HALE Method according to WHO Statistical Information System

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy
          Remarks

          Remarks

          Health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) is the average number of years that a person can expect to live in full health. HALE is calculated by subtracting from the life expectancy the average number of years in ill-health weighted for severity of the health problem.

          WHO uses life tables and Sullivan's method to compute the HALE for countries. Briefly, HALE is estimated using three sources of information: the fraction of the population surviving to each age, calculated from birth and death rates; the prevalence of each type of disability at each age; and the weight assigned to each type of disability, which may or may not vary with age (WHO, 2000c). For more information see: HALE Method according to WHO Statistical Information System

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy
          Sullivan's method

          What is Health Expectancy according to Sullivan’s method?

          The concept of health expectancies as health indicators was proposed by Sanders (1964) and the first example was published in a report of the US Department of Health Education and Welfare (Sullivan, 1971). This report contained preliminary estimates of Disability-Free Life Expectancy calculated using a method devised by Sullivan and applicable to any state of health definition (source: Jagger et al., 2006).

          The Sullivan health expectancy reflects the current health of a real population adjusted for mortality levels and independent of the age structure. Health expectancy calculated by Sullivan’s method is the number of remaining years, at a particular age, which an individual can expect to live in a healthy state (however health may be defined). For example, in 2004 in Belgium, women at age 65 could expect to live a further 20.0 years of which 12.4 years (62%) would be spent without disability (source: Jagger et al., 2006).

          What information is required to calculate the Sullivan health expectancy?

          The data required are the age-specific prevalence (proportions) of the population in healthy and unhealthy states (often obtained from cross-sectional surveys), and age-specific mortality information taken from a period life table. Sullivan health expectancy is not very sensitive to the size of the age groups, meaning that an abridged life table may be used. Generally, it is preferable to use five- (sometimes ten-) year age intervals because most surveys used to derive the age-specific proportions (prevalence) in healthy and unhealthy states are too small to allow smaller age intervals. This is particularly important at the higher ages and it is usual to include the final age interval as 85 years and over (source: Jagger et al., 2006).

          Also see:

          Healthy Life Years Expectancy - disability-free life expectancy: Method

          Health Expectancy Calculation by the Sullivan Method: A Practical Guide (EHEMU)

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy
          HALE method according to the WHO Statistical Information System

          How is the HALE calculated ?

          WHO uses life tables and Sullivan's method to compute the HALE for countries. The calculation method also includes a weight assigned to each type of disability to adjusted for the severity of the disability.

          Mortality data for calculation of life tables are obtained from death registration data reported annually to the WHO. For countries without such data, available survey and census sources containing information on child and adult mortality are analysed and used to estimate life tables.

          Estimations of prevalence data are obtained from the WHO Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, the WHO Multi-Country Survey Study (MCSS) and the World Health Survey (WHS).

          A four-stage strategy is used to overcome the problem that comparable health state prevalence data are not available for all countries:

          1) Data from the WHO GBD study are used to estimate severity-adjusted prevalence by age and sex for all countries.

          2) Data from the WHO MCSS and WHS are used to make independent estimates of severity adjusted prevalence by age and sex for survey countries.

          3) Prevalence for all countries is calculated based on GBD, MCSS and WHS estimates.

          4) Life tables constructed by the WHO are used together with Sullivan's method to compute the HALE for countries.

          Lack of comparable and reliable data on mortality and disease prevalence

          A major challenge with the HALE indicator is the lack of reliable data on mortality and morbidity, especially from low income countries. Other problems with the indicator include the lack of comparability of self-reported data from health interviews.

          Source:

          WHOSIS (WHO Statistical Information System) Indicator Definitions and Metadata

          Also see:

          Methods for Measuring Healthy Life Expectancy

          30 July 2009
          Healthy life expectancy
          EU-SILC

          The EU-SILC (Statistics on Income and Living Conditions) is an instrument aiming at collecting timely and comparable cross-sectional and longitudinal multidimensional micro-data on income, poverty, social exclusion and living conditions. This instrument is anchored in the European Statistical System (ESS). It replaced the European Community Household Panel (ECHP) from 2005 onwards.

          The EU-SILC was launched in 2004 in 13 Member States (Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria, Portugal, Finland and Sweden) and in Norway and Iceland. This first release of cross-sectional data mainly refers to the income reference year 2003 with a fieldwork carried out in 2004. The EU-SILC will reach its full scale extension to include 25 Member States plus Norway and Iceland in 2005. Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Switzerland have launched SILC in 2006.

          The instrument aims to provide two types of data:

          • Cross-sectional data pertaining to a given time or a certain time period with variables on income, poverty, social exclusion and other living conditions (including three health items).
          • Longitudinal data pertaining to individual-level changes over time, observed periodically over, typically, a four year period.

          Social exclusion and housing condition information is collected at household level while labour, education and health information is obtained for persons aged 16 and over. The core of the instrument, income at very detailed component level, is mainly collected at personal level.

          Also see:

          Eurostat Metadata EU-SILC: Summary Methodology

          Literature and data sources

          Literature and data sources

          Jagger C, Cox B, Le Roy S, EHEMU. Health Expectancy Calculation by the Sullivan Method. Third Edition. EHEMU Technical Report September 2006.   2006.
          WHO, World Health Organization. World Health Report 2000: Health Systems: Improving Performance.  Geneva: WHO, 2000c.

          Data sources

          EHEMU. European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit
          Eurostat. Statistical Database of the European Union
          WHO-HFA. WHO - Health For All
          EUPHIX, EUphact. Bilthoven: RIVM, <http://www.euphix.org> version 1.11, 17 December 2009