For long term expats, is your average life expectancy based on your home country or Thailand?

[Jingthing]

This may be an academic topic for most as looking at national life expectancy numbers doesn't tell you very much about your own situation as far as factors like health history, the risks you take, and health history of your relatives, etc.

 

However in some cases it's worth looking at particularly for older Americans deciding when to start their social security benefit.

 

Being American, I looked this up and was kind of surprised to learn that the Thailand life expectancy is much higher than in the US.

 

I wasn't surprised at all to learn that U.S. life expectancies are much lower than other "advanced" western countries though. 

 

U.S.

Men 73.1 (BAD!)

Women 79.1

https://www.statnews.com/2023/11/13/life-expectancy-men-women/

 

THAILAND

Men 75.75

Women 84.08

 

So long term expats, are we in the Thai bucket or stuck with our home country?

[The Cyclist]

Not something I fret over.

 

Although keeping off Thai roads after dark O'Clock will probably increase my life expectancy.

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, The Cyclist said:

Not something I fret over.

 

Although keeping off Thai roads after dark O'Clock will probably increase my life expectancy.

Understood.

I considered putting this in the US forum, because for Americans estimating your life expectancy well is a really big deal (financially) in deciding what age to start your social security benefits.

[ThaiPauly]

I have no idea how long I will live for.

 

How long is a piece of string?

 

How can anyone have the right number, just hope to live as long as possible, healthily, would not want to be a vegetable.

Numbers are meaningless, just live for today.

[sidjameson]

Those figures are life expectancy at birth. You'd be surprised how if you've already reached 60 you can expect considerably longer.

In the UK a 80 year old today lives on average another 6 or 8 years I believe. 

[Jingthing]

Just now, sidjameson said:

Those figures are life expectancy at birth. You'd be surprised how if you've already reached 60 you can expect considerably longer.

In the UK a 80 year old today lives on average another 6 or 8 years I believe. 

That is true.

[scubascuba3]

Totally depends on lifestyle and more importantly diet, I'm much fitter than i ever was in UK plus better diet, it's gotta help, how long will i live? no idea, around 80 would be nice, 90-100 no thanks

[zzaa09]

Overthinking most everything will certainly shorten your pathetic existence. 

Seems to be instinctive for too many. 

[bignok]

Mostly positive thinking and being busy. Munger was 99. His diet was junk food. As long as you get enough electrolytes and protein the rest of the diet doesn't matter much at all. I had a relative 96. She was fat. Ate cake and whisky. 

[mfd101]

4 minutes ago, sidjameson said:

Those figures are life expectancy at birth. You'd be surprised how if you've already reached 60 you can expect considerably longer.

In the UK a 80 year old today lives on average another 6 or 8 years I believe. 

Yes. For most expats it's life expectancy at, say, 60 or 65 that is relevant.

 

I hope - at currently 74 & 95% healthy - to live happily in to my 90s and, barring accidents & violence, I see no obvious reason why not. But, as my best friend (who drowned in Oz at 62) used to say: Noone knows when they're going to die.

[timendres]

I live like I am going to die tomorrow.

Unfortunately, that is working out to be a disaster.

[sidjameson]

16 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Totally depends on lifestyle and more importantly diet, I'm much fitter than i ever was in UK plus better diet, it's gotta help, how long will i live? no idea, around 80 would be nice, 90-100 no thanks

But look at David Attenborough! If I thought I'd age like him I'd be ok with reaching 100. He's 97 btw.

[sidjameson]

14 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Yes. For most expats it's life expectancy at, say, 60 or 65 that is relevant.

 

I hope - at currently 74 & 95% healthy - to live happily in to my 90s and, barring accidents & violence, I see no obvious reason why not. But, as my best friend (who drowned in Oz at 62) used to say: Noone knows when they're going to die.

Do you think Thailand's air quality will take any years off that?

[bignok]

9 minutes ago, sidjameson said:

But look at David Attenborough! If I thought I'd age like him I'd be ok with reaching 100. He's 97 btw.

Busy. Busy people live longer.

[Baht Simpson]

They say live every day like it's your last. So from now on I will lie in a hospital bed screaming in agony.

[Celsius]

Nothing on this planet needs to be compared to USA.

 

Not healthcare, not life expectancy, not quality of life, not food, not crime, not women, not schools, not lesbians, not woke.

 

Literally nothing.

 

I always have a laff when a US bloke cums to Thailand and says omfg healthcare is so cheap.

 

Yea, maybe to you mug.

 

 

[BritManToo]

51 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

So long term expats, are we in the Thai bucket or stuck with our home country?

I tend to compare with my parents and pals.

So far at 67 I've outlived them all, and assume I'm on borrowed time.

 

Not a big one for the stats, the governments manipulate them to reduce pensions and annuities, and extend retirement age.

[bignok]

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I tend to compare with my parents and pals.

So far at 67 I've outlived them all, and assume I'm on borrowed time.

 

Not a big one for the stats, the governments manipulate them to reduce pensions and annuities, and extend retirement age.

Must have bad genes or they were all negative. My grandpa had a string of health issues, still lived to 87. 67 is young.

 

Saw an 80yo run a marathon. Another 80yo deadlift more than me.

 

Its mostly attitude.

 

My mate is 77yo, he drinks coke and 55% whisky daily.

 

Humans can easily make 85 if you think positive.

 

 

[bignok]

Look at this

 

https://www.oldest.org/sports/marathon-runners/

[novacova]

Life expectancy is a combination of genetics and lifestyle. Can’t do anything about the genetics though having a positive outlook, keeping the brain active and having positive relationships helps. My father smoked and lived until 90, both set of grandparents lived well into their 90’s. None of them ate as well as I do or was anywhere as physically active as I am, maybe I’ll make it to mid 90’s or so. But if I end up with dementia then I’ll probably be one of those farangs that had an unfortunate balcony event, have no intention of life experiencing a brain disease.

[mfd101]

42 minutes ago, sidjameson said:

Do you think Thailand's air quality will take any years off that?

Not living out here in south Surin. Air is not the pure quality that it was in Canberra but not too bad all the same.

[mfd101]

47 minutes ago, sidjameson said:

But look at David Attenborough! If I thought I'd age like him I'd be ok with reaching 100. He's 97 btw.

Look at Kissinger - he was still lucid and articulate at 100.

[Moonlover]

44 minutes ago, sidjameson said:

Do you think Thailand's air quality will take any years off that?

It all depends on which part of the country one lives in. Up here in the north east I have no complains about air qualify. It is nearly always 'satisfactory' or better and quite often 'excellent'. 

 

This encourages me to walk regularly, one of our best natural exercises. 78 next month and still going strong.

[mfd101]

1 hour ago, timendres said:

I live like I am going to die tomorrow.

I suspect if you live every day like it's your last, there's a good chance it will be.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Understood.

I considered putting this in the US forum, because for Americans estimating your life expectancy well is a really big deal (financially) in deciding what age to start your social security benefits.

 

MIne is based on when I die, now 78 yo in excellent health, no regular medications.

 

Average age for death males in home country is 81 to 83 yo.

 

When I do die I'll send you an e.mail with an answer to your question. 

[BigStar]

You'll need to account for the years taken off your life by renting, about 2 weeks per rental year. Most of our members believe strongly in the Little Miss Muffet principle here in Thailand and insist on renting only. 

 

https://nypost.com/2023/12/03/lifestyle/disturbing-reason-were-aging-faster/

 

[still kicking]

I guess I am doing OK but live in the west, my sister is 85 I am 76 now, my G/F was about 113 my mum died at 96.

[chickenslegs]

Life expectancy charts are massively affected by infant/childhood/teenage deaths. If you survive into your twenties, never ride a motorcycle, and stay away from minibuses, you could live forever.

 

[still kicking]

3 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

Life expectancy charts are massively affected by infant/childhood/teenage deaths. If you survive into your twenties, never ride a motorcycle, and stay away from minibuses, you could live forever.

 

And don't use a bum gun 

[ikke1959]

When your time is up it is up.. nobody can tell what age it will be. Indeed averages means young and old and nowadays the healthcare is better, but still...Strangely enough a lot of my male friends and familymembers died around 65/70 while the women are around their 90's already and still very fit. Probably people in the West die sooner as they are used to work harder and more, while in the tropical countries life is more relaxed..