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The results of a World Health Organization (WHO) and Imperial College London paper published in the British medical journal The Lancet on Feb. 21 analyzing life expectancies for the 35 member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

The life expectancy for South Korean women is predicted to pass 90 years, a first anywhere in the world.

With males’ life expectancy also expected to ascend to first place globally, South Korea is poised to have the world’s longest lifespans for the first time in history.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Imperial College London published a paper in the British medical journal The Lancet on Feb. 21 analyzing life expectancies for the 35 member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). According to its findings, the life expectancy for South Korean women born in 2030 is predicted to reach 90.82 years.

South Korean women were the only group among males or females in the countries examines to have a life expectancy over 90 years. They were followed by women in France (88.55), Japan (88.41), Spain (88.07), and Switzerland (87.07).

The predicted life expectancy for South Korean males born in 2030 was also the world’s highest at 84.07 years.

Also notable in the findings was the increase in predicted life expectancies for South Korea. Among South Koreans born in 2010, women ranked sixth worldwide with a life expectancy of 84.23 years, while men ranked 19th at 77.11 years. Yet the predicted life expectancy for women born in 2035 was 6.59 years longer, marking the biggest increase anywhere in the world. The increase for South Korean males was 6.96 years, second only to Hungary, and their life expectancy ranking was predicted to jump all the way to first from 19th in 2010.

The study’s findings predicted longer lifespans in most of the countries examined, and a decline in the life expectancy gap between men and women.

“Many people used to believe that 90 years is the upper limit for life expectancy, but this research suggests we will break the 90-year-barrier,” Imperial College London professor Majid Ezzati told the AP.

In an appearance on the BBC, Ezzati explained factors behind the rise in life expectancies for South Koreans, noting that more people were enjoying equal access to education and nutrition and managing high blood pressure, with the world‘s lowest rate of obesity.

By Cho Il-jun, staff reporter

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