Longevity of Expats in Thailand

[lumply]

Has there ever been a survey on whether living in Thailand adds or detracts from lifespan of Expats as compared to so called first world countries? What are your general views on this assuming a reasonably happy lifestyle and one that is not blighted by financial woes? My take is that the relatively stress free life in Thailand of those in this category adds to longevity.

[CharlieH]

Location Location Location will impact hugely.

Just as it would in say, London compared to the Lake district, or New York compared to Oregon.

as would lifestyle, bar fly/ entertainment district regular, against rural village hermit, and every variation in between.

[Aussieroaming]

Too many variables...some expats live the quiet life and some live it up.

[lumply]

OK, I was half expecting that. Let's narrow it down a bit to Bangkok, CM, Phuket and Pattaya. City existence and all that involves, along with a comfortable income to live a decent life without wishing to return to home country.

[sipi]

I find Aussies that "hang around" Thais more fun and youthful than Aussies that "hang around" Aussies; within their same age-group.

I believe it reflects on their physical health.

Having said that, when the "shit hits the fan" as it will do as we age, they soon retreat to the Aussie health system... Can you blame them?

Not many 90 year old farangs in Thailand, but a lot of happy 70 year olds.

Edited March 21, 2015 by sipi

[mesquite]

Compared to their friends back home, male expats in Thailand die earlier and happier.

[sipi]

Compared to their friends back home, male expats in Thailand die earlier and happier.

Is there such a thing as a happy death?

How can we balance this out?

I am thinking stay in Thailand until your organs begin to fail, and then repatriate home.

Strangely I have known 2 expats who have done this.

[Thongkorn]

It depends on your state of mind and where you live and amount of money.

[onemorechang]

_{Do you want to be very old in Thailand.}

_{Not me.}

_{Check out 70-75 good enough for me}

_{maybe you can live a lot longer , for what !!!!!!!.}

_{a load of old peoples diseases, loads of problems for your family , no thanks.}

_{Live life a bit brighter and burn out a bit shorter , way more fun.}

_{go to sleep one night never awake up., best way.}

_{even better if in a St room !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}

_{who wants to live forever.}

Edited March 21, 2015 by onemorechang

[sipi]

_{Do you want to be very old in Thailand.}

_{Not me.}

_{Check out 70-75 good enough for me}

_{maybe you can live a lot longer , for what !!!!!!!.}

_{a load of old peoples diseases, loads of problems for your family , no thanks.}

_{Live life a bit brighter and burn out a bit shorter , way more fun.}

_{go to sleep one night never awake up., best way.}

_{even better if in a St room !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}

I am guessing the typical "perfect death" would be..

"You screwed my wife"

"When?"

"This morning"

"I am 95. I can't remember what I did 2 hours ago"

"You screwed my wife"

"And no doubt she enjoyed it"

......bang......

[Chonburiram]

Why are you allowed to retire to a " third/second world" country?

Because it reduces your life expectancy for about 15 years. Otherwise, you wouldn't be allowed to do so.

For "expats" who arrived before retirement, look at the life expectancy for your birth country, subtract 15 years and that's it.

[onemorechang]

Come on Thailand is way more fun than Falang land !!!!!

who wants to play dominos or dig a patch of dirt on a cold day!!!!!!

Check out early with a smile

Edited March 21, 2015 by onemorechang

[sdanielmcev]

Since I live up here in Sedate City, I guess I don't matter. Can't really see Thailand shortening my life span. If you're driving 110 mph towards a brick wall, your chances aren't good.

[FireMedic]

Considering the high rate of "Peter Pan-ing" from high rises at all ages, no real data could be used.

[peterb17]

_{Do you want to be very old in Thailand.}

_{Not me.}

_{Check out 70-75 good enough for me}

_{maybe you can live a lot longer , for what !!!!!!!.}

_{a load of old peoples diseases, loads of problems for your family , no thanks.}

_{Live life a bit brighter and burn out a bit shorter , way more fun.}

_{go to sleep one night never awake up., best way.}

_{even better if in a St room !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}

_{who wants to live forever.}

Think it's a question of growing old in grace and style- therefore planning for old age.

My neighbour is 92, travels incessantly ( moans if they don't do first class on the airlines anymore) went on world cruise last year, endless trips and still enjoys life to the full.

Wait until you get to 68- feel fine and then think- oops only have a couple more years to go.

Maybe it helps that as friends of Dorothy there is absolutely no pressure to leave anything behind- spend nearly every penny; as I say grow old in some style and Prada of course .

[Chonburiram]

My country of birth gives me a life expectation of 78 years. - 15 years = 63. I'm ok with that.

[paddyjenkins]

_{Do you want to be very old in Thailand.}

_{Not me.}

_{Check out 70-75 good enough for me}

_{maybe you can live a lot longer , for what !!!!!!!.}

_{a load of old peoples diseases, loads of problems for your family , no thanks.}

_{Live life a bit brighter and burn out a bit shorter , way more fun.}

_{go to sleep one night never awake up., best way.}

_{even better if in a St room !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}

_{who wants to live forever.}

I not only agree with you, but I've agreed with a friend to do me in on my 76th birthday, assuming he doesn't die first.

[MaeJoMTB]

I only know one man over 70 with a quality life.

Mostly those over 70 are dying a slow and unhappy often painful death.

[kannot]

it all depends on MONEY.

[kannot]

_{Do you want to be very old in Thailand.}

_{Not me.}

_{Check out 70-75 good enough for me}

_{maybe you can live a lot longer , for what !!!!!!!.}

_{a load of old peoples diseases, loads of problems for your family , no thanks.}

_{Live life a bit brighter and burn out a bit shorter , way more fun.}

_{go to sleep one night never awake up., best way.}

_{even better if in a St room !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}

_{who wants to live forever.}

I not only agree with you, but I've agreed with a friend to do me in on my 76th birthday, assuming he doesn't die first.

My Dad wa ss ticking a new roof on his house at 76

[NickJ]

If you move to Hua Hin.....you could very well see 100th birthday.........

[Chonburiram]

My Dad was sticking a new roof on his house at 76

Because he had no money to hire someone?

[peterb17]

I only know one man over 70 with a quality life.

Mostly those over 70 are dying a slow and unhappy often painful death.

Oh dear.

Let's hope you are not approaching 70?

Never heard such tosh before 70 is the new 40 , these days it's not very old, unless you are Russian.

[Rooo]

Moved to expat Life.

[MAJIC]

Not a Scientific study,I know plenty of people who have died below the average of 70, of course some drank themselves to death,and others were struck down by illness that's why it's not scientific! too many variables!

Here is the world country by country world average lifespan,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy

Edited March 21, 2015 by MAJIC

[neverdie]

given some of the dead beats that seem to be attracted to Thailand, my guess is the averages wouldn't look so appealing.

Then there's old b a stards like UG that help bend the statistic the other way.

I hope I'm gone in another 40-50 years time, don't want to live too long.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I think it's an interesting, albeit, a bit morbid question.

My guess would be, the life expectancy overall gets shortened a bit by all the various farangs who end up dying as a result either of 1] alcohol related causes and/or 2] road/highway/travel/motorcycle fatalities.

Of course, a person could equally well drink or drive themselves to death in their home countries. But my sense if there's a greater level of those deaths occurring here than likely back home.

Stay away from excessive drinking and unsafe/risky driving and related behaviors, then the odds improve a fare bit, I'd imagine.

[Crazy chef 1]

Stress free??? Have you ever been to homepro or Thaiwatsadu???

[KarenBravo]

My country of birth gives me a life expectation of 78 years. - 15 years = 63. I'm ok with that.

I don't think it quite works that way.

You need to look at what the life expectancy was at the year of your birth.

[canopy]

My take is that the relatively stress free life in Thailand of those in this category adds to longevity.

I am curious what ways you find the stress level lower. There are huge stresses in Thailand that are difficult to avoid. Noise and burning come to mind. I would imagine not being able to read or communicate in a second language as proficiently as your first language can also increase stress.