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In 2024, the average life expectancy at birth in Singapore was 83.5 years. The average life expectancy for residents there had increased in the last ten years, corresponding with the increasing economic progress of the country. 

Investments in medical advances and disease management

Singapore’s expenditure on health as a percentage of the GDP plays a significant role in increasing the life expectancy in the country. In 2022, the Singaporean government's per capita spending on healthcare was approximately 3,770 current international dollars at purchasing power parity. Improvements in health care and medical technology, an integrated health care system, as well as access to sanitation and reduced risk of infectious diseases, all helped the population of the country to achieve longer life. 

Healthy life expectancy versus life expectancy

Singaporeans could expect a healthy life expectancy of around 75 years, which refers to the number of years people live in full health. This means that the average Singaporean would live about 10 years in ill health. The prospect of an aging and unhealthy population is worrying for a country whose most important resource is its people. By 2050, close to half the population is expected to be aged 65 years or older. It is thus crucial to increase life expectancy while simultaneously reducing the amount of time people spend in poor health. According to the survey among Singapore residents in March 2021, only 31  percent of respondents stated that they were ready for retirement or old age in terms of their health.