Why do Scandinavians live so long?
Norway has a great life expectancy (82 years on average), thanks to the active Norwegian lifestyle, the diet that's full of Omega−3 fatty acids (all that salmon is definitely good for you) and of course, a robust healthcare system that's funded by the public.
According to UN data, the average life expectancy for someone born today in the United States stands at 79.1 years. Scandinavian countries Sweden (83.3), Norway (82.9) and Denmark (81.4) all rank higher, as do Nordic nations Iceland (83.5) and Finland (82.5).
One simple factor could be that the region's high societal trust, strong welfare systems, relatively low crime and low unemployment means there are far fewer people who consider themselves unhappy.
The Scandi diet is big on reducing starchy carbs and replacing those calories with heaping servings of healthy proteins, such as locally-sourced, cold-water fish, and organic vegetables. Just as importantly, Scandinavians believe it's not just what you eat that counts, it's how you prepare it that matters too.
There's no calorie counting or crash dieting — rather, the Nordic diet promotes a lifelong approach to healthy eating. It focuses on plant-based, seasonal foods and is packed with lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
Citizens' longevity is due in part to Sweden's commitment to environmental cleanliness. The water quality is satisfactory; 96 percent of those included in a poll approved of their country's drinking water. A lack of pollutants may also contribute to Sweden's higher-than-average life expectancy.
One of the reasons why Norway is ranked so high is due to the country's investment in its citizens living long and healthy lives. This investment results in a high life expectancy, which is 82.3 years. This is especially impressive when comparing this statistic to the worldwide average life expectancy of 71.5 years.
As a result of the relatively low levels of sunlight for most of the year, humans in Scandinavia began to develop symptoms of vitamin D deficiency: namely lighter skin and hair colour. No fellas around? With the sun rarely making an appearance through the Danish winter, it's easy to see how this theory makes sense.
Scandinavians are described as very secure, closed off and not very emotional, but rather logical, punctual and do not appreciate conflict situations. Scandinavia is the group of Nordic countries such as Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland.
What Scandinavian country has the best quality of life?
Indeed, in Global Citizen Solutions pioneering Global Passport Index, Sweden ranks first in our Quality of Life Index. Scandinavian countries are renowned for their well-rounded systems, striking a good work-life balance with a particular emphasis on spending time with loved ones.
With over 42 percent of all alcohol sales in Sweden, the typical Swedish drink recreational of today is a glass of wine. "And a big portion of it is bag-in-box wine", explains Eva Lenneman, curator at Spritmusuem in Stockholm. "Swedes are in fact the biggest BiB-drinkers in the world".
Swedish people are an average 172.71cm (5 feet 7.99 inches) tall. Swedish men are 179.73cm (5 feet 10.76 inches) tall on average, while Swedish women are 165.6cm (5 feet 5.23 inches) tall.
The average height of a Viking was 6'3", while the average height of a European during the same era was 5'7". There are several theories as to why this is the case. One theory is that Vikings had better access to food and nutrition, which allowed them to grow taller.
Average height of a Norwegian
In 2019, the average Norwegian was recorded as being 172.65cm (approx. 5ft6. 6) tall, with the average Norwegian man standing at 179.74cm (approx. 5ft9) and the average Norwegian woman standing at 165.56cm (approx.
An open-faced sandwich is a very common Scandinavian breakfast. It can be as simple as a piece of rye bread with butter and a slice of cheese, or you can spruce it up a bit with toppings like cucumber, apples, sliced egg, or bell pepper. Chopped chives or dill are never a bad idea.
Nordic diet staples include whole-grain cereals such as rye, barley, and oats; berries and other fruits; vegetables (especially cabbage and root vegetables like potatoes and carrots); fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and herring; and legumes (beans and peas).
Smorgasbords (bread and butter buffet tables) are popular at lunch in Scandinavia. In Denmark, open-faced sandwiches are made from the buffet table and eaten with a knife and fork. Buttered bread is topped with items such as sausage, herring, smoked salmon, boiled potatoes, cheese, and tomatoes.
Racial gaps in life expectancy have long been recognized. The same CDC data show that nationally, Hispanic Americans have the longest life expectancy, followed by white and then Black Americans.
Most of the life expectancy research identifies lifestyle choices as the primary reason for the decline in the Danish average life expectancy. These choices include alcohol and tobacco use, poor diet choices and lack of exercise (which often leads to obesity).
Why is US life expectancy so low?
Why is life expectancy falling in the US? COVID-19, drug overdoses, and accidental injury accounted for about two-thirds of the decline in life expectancy, according to the 2022 report. Other reasons included heart and liver disease and suicides.
Life expectancy for Black people was only 71.8 years compared to 77.6 years for White people and 78.8 years for Hispanic people. Life expectancy was even lower for Black males at only 68 years. Data were not available for other racial/ethnic groups.
A Mediterranean diet remains one of the gold standards for living longer and more healthfully. This pattern is characterized by a high intake of fruits and vegetables; whole grains; pulses; healthful fats from nuts, olive oil, and avocado; and herbs and spices. It includes seafood a few times a week.
Okinawa, Japan
According to Blue Zones, the people living in Okinawa are fortunate enough to have extremely low rates of cancer, heart disease, and dementia compared to Americans. Their longevity can also be attributed to strong social ties, as well as a deep sense of purpose.
| Rank | Country | Average life expectancy (years) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 84.7 |
| 2 | Korea | 83.3 |
| 3 | Norway | 83.3 |
| 4 | Switzerland | 83.2 |
Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy are both longest in Japan, in both men and women; longevity is particularly high in women. Age-standard mortality rate is also the lowest, at about two-thirds that of the US.
They consume diets that include considerably fewer processed foods that are lower in unhealthy fats while being higher in fruits, vegetables, fiber, and lean proteins. Dinner is served early in Norway, and eating together as a family is important.
The study shows the genetic history of Scandinavia was influenced by foreign genes from Asia and Southern Europe before the Viking Age. Early Viking Age raiding parties were an activity for locals and included close family members. The genetic legacy in the UK has left the population with up to six per cent Viking DNA.
These states were the kingdoms of Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The Scandinavian settlements in Greenland disappeared in the 15th century. Modern groups descended from the North Germanic peoples are the Danes, Faroese people, Icelanders, Norwegians and Swedes. These groups are often referred to as Scandinavians.
Finland. Finland has the highest blond hair population by percentage of the total population. Nearly 80% of the population has blond hair, and an astounding 89% of the population has blue eyes. Blond hair and blue eyes are one of the rarest combinations in the world.
Why are Scandinavians so quiet?
Some claim it is because of the harsh climate and the geography of Scandinavia. Add in the relatively small population (compared with the area of the Nordic countries) and you get the recipe for silence. People are used to silence, because of their nature and climate. Population density is among the lowest in Europe.
North Germanic peoples or Scandinavians, a group of related ethnic groups originating in the Nordic countries. Nordic race, a historical race concept largely covering populations of Northern Europe.
That Scandinavian life is famous for its sense of well-being. The UN's World Happiness Report, in fact, now ranks Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden at the top of their happiness list.
Norway. Norway is known for its deep fjords, steep mountains, Northern Lights and incredible national parks, including beautiful fauna.
Stockholm, Sweden has on average the warmest summer of the Nordic capitals, with an average maximum temperature of 23 °C (73 °F) in July; Copenhagen, Oslo and Helsinki have an average July maximum temperature of 22 °C (72 °F).
Norway is often ranked as the safest country to visit in the Scandi region, but all locations in the Nordic space are safe. Nordic countries are often considered to be safer because the citizens are less vulnerable to economic unrest and stress than other countries.
That's because some Swedes think feeding a guest creates a sense of obligation, explains Tellström. And in a society that values equality and independence, people don't want to put a burden on someone or feel like they owe someone something, he says.
Belarus, a small landlocked country in Europe, consumed the greatest average number of liters of pure alcohol per capita. On average, its citizens consumed 14.4 liters each year, over 1.5 times more than Americans.
The youngest legal drinking age in the world is 15, with both Mali and the Central African Republic allowing folks to drink at that time. Seven countries do not have a government-mandated drinking age, while 11 countries ban the consumption of booze entirely.
Latvian women are the tallest on the planet, with an average height of 170cm. * The top four tallest countries for men are the Netherlands, Belgium, Estonia and Latvia. The top four tallest countries for women are Latvia, the Netherlands, Estonia and the Czech Republic.
Which country has the tallest females?
The Netherlands is renowned for its tall population and unsurprisingly the nation has the tallest average height on Earth. The average 19-year-old man stands at 183 cm, while women of the same age are typically 172 cm.
Mapping the Mountains of Giants
According to their data, 18-year-old men from Montenegro are currently the tallest in the world (182.9 cm; almost exactly 6 ft), surpassing their Dutch peers (182.4 cm; 5.98 ft) by half a centimeter (about a quarter inch). Even so, the Montenegrins don't stand out among their neighbors.
They were particularly nervous in the western sea lochs then known as the "Scottish fjords". The Vikings were also wary of the Gaels of Ireland and west Scotland and the inhabitants of the Hebrides.
"The examination of skeletons from different localities in Scandinavia reveals that the average height of the Vikings was a little less than that of today: men were about 5 ft 7-3/4 in. tall and women 5 ft 2-1/2 in.
They may have had a reputation for trade, braids and fearsome raids, but the Vikings were far from a single group of flaxen-haired, sea-faring Scandinavians.
Vikings were likely quite tall even by modern standards, with adult Norse males in Sweden, Norway, and England found to average around 176 cm (5 ft 9¼ in) in height, compared to 175.3 cm (5 ft 8⅞ in) in modern-day USA and England. The taller Vikings reached around 190 cm and the shorter around 170 cm.
One of the reasons why Norway is ranked so high is due to the country's investment in its citizens living long and healthy lives. This investment results in a high life expectancy, which is 82.3 years. This is especially impressive when comparing this statistic to the worldwide average life expectancy of 71.5 years.
Norway is now ranked among the top 10 countries in the world for life expectancy at birth, healthy life expectancy, and age-standardized rate of disability-adjusted life years. The findings show that Norwegians are living longer due to reductions in cardiovascular disease, neoplasms, and respiratory infections.
The Vikings typically lived to be around 40-50 years old. But there are also examples of upper class Vikings who lived longer – for instance Harald Fairhair, who was King of Norway for more than 60 years.
What nationality has the most longevity?
| # | Country | Life Expectancy (both sexes) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hong Kong | 85.29 |
| 2 | Japan | 85.03 |
| 3 | Macao | 84.68 |
| 4 | Switzerland | 84.25 |
They consume diets that include considerably fewer processed foods that are lower in unhealthy fats while being higher in fruits, vegetables, fiber, and lean proteins. Dinner is served early in Norway, and eating together as a family is important.
The Vikings were more robust and muscular than the average person, and that was for both women and men. One of the reasons for this is, of course, the hard physical work, that was needed to survive in a landscape like Scandinavia in the Viking age.
- Lesotho (54.366 years)
- Nigeria (54.808 years)
- Sierra Leone (54.81 years)
- Somalia (57.5 years)
- Ivory Coast (57.844 years)
- South Sudan (57.948 years)
- Guinea Bissau (58.444 years)
- Equatorial Guinea (58.878 years)
Males born in the Lesotho have the lowest life expectancy of the world in 2022. Similarly low is the life expectancy for females born in this country. The average woman lives only 56 years. The lowest life expectancy for women in the world in 2022 was for girls born in Nigeria, with only 54 years.
