Life expectancy rises in Faroe Islands but gender gap narrows

Life expectancy in the Faroe Islands continues to climb, though the difference between men and women is shrinking, according to new figures from the national statistics office Hagstova Føroya.

Women now have an average life expectancy of 84.1 years, while men can expect to live 81.9 years. Over the past decade, the gap has narrowed significantly, with men’s life expectancy increasing at a faster rate than women’s.

Since 1986, men’s life expectancy has risen by 10 years—a 14% increase—while women’s has grown by nearly six years, or 7%. The statistics office attributes the overall rise to steady improvements over the past 40 years.