Revealed: the average age an Irish person can now expect to live to

Life expectancy now stands at 82.4 years in Ireland, 2.1 years above the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average, a new report finds.

The Health at a Glance report from the OECD looks at 38 scores, and sees Ireland score well in areas such as lower out-of-pocket expenses but also notes room for improvement.

Three per cent of the population in Ireland are classed as having a chronic condition. 

Out of the Irish population aged 15+, 5.2% is classed as being in poor health. 

Preventable mortality, deaths which could have been avoided by public health interventions focusing on behaviour and lifestyle factors, socioeconomic status and environmental influences was 109 per 100,000 in Ireland.

This is much lower than the OECD average of 158.

In Ireland, deaths from Covid were below average in 2020 and 2022. However, cancer deaths were seventh highest. 

Ireland scores higher when it comes to alcohol and drug use, but lower in the area of smoking.

Almost one-third of all deaths could have been avoided through more effective and timely prevention and healthcare interventions.