In 2023, average life expectancy in the 27 countries of the European Union is estimated at 81.5 years. Thus, according to data published by Eurostat, Europeans have gained 0.9 more years of life compared to 2022 and 0.2 years compared to the pre-pandemic level of 2019. Women, however, live longer than men, with life expectancy to 2023 estimated at 84.2 years for females versus 78.9 years for males. Overall in 15 countries, life expectancy exceeded the EU average, with the highest figure recorded in Spain (84 years), Italy (83.8 years) and Malta (83.6 years). In contrast, in eight countries life expectancy is below the EU average: Bulgaria (75.8 years), Latvia (75.9), Romania (76.6), Hungary (76.9), Lithuania (77.3), Slovakia (78.1), Croatia (78.6) and Estonia (78.8).