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How do new French life expectancy stats compare with US and UK?
We also look at other data in the new official population report
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French researchers champion benefit of exercise during pregnancy
Two year study begins to find best techniques
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People in France living longer in good health - and for longer than in UK and US
New official data also shows a rise in the number of years of good health before disability begins to affect quality of life
French life expectancy falls for first time in years
Statistics show how life expectancy in France has unfortunately fallen...
LIFE expectancy in France fell in 2015 for the first time since the 1960s after years of continual increases.
Women can now expect to live 85 years and men 78.9, against 85.4 and 79.2 years previously.
Statistics agency Insee said the causes were linked to the ageing population as the ‘baby boom’ generation makes 18.8% of the population this year compared to 18.4 last year.
More significantly, a three-month flu epidemic in early 2015 plus the summer heatwave and a freezing October caused many early deaths – with 24,000 flu deaths alone.
In the UK and across Europe, average life expectancy rose, with men in the UK living until 78.8 and women 82.7.
This is better than the European average of 73 for men and 80 for women but while British men can expect to live as long as other Europeans, its women trail Spain (where the life expectancy is 85), France, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Germany, Holland and Greece.