Disability-Free Life Expectancy Rises for French Seniors

French seniors at age 65 now enjoy longer periods of life without health limitations, with women averaging 12 years and men 10.5 years, according to a new government study.

The disability-free life expectancy at age 65 has increased to 12 years for women and 10.5 years for men, reflecting steady improvements since 2008.
These years without health limitations now account for over half of the remaining life expectancy for both men (52.9%) and women (50.8%).
France ranks fifth in the EU for women’s disability-free life expectancy at 65, surpassing the European average by 2.5 years, and seventh for men, exceeding the average by 1.4 years.
The study highlights that disability-free life expectancy has grown faster than overall life expectancy, signaling delayed onset of chronic conditions in older adults.
From 2008 to 2023, women gained an additional 1 year and 11 months of disability-free life expectancy at 65, while men gained 1 year and 10 months.