The latest health ministry data reveals an encouraging trend for Japan in 2023, as average life expectancy for both men and women has increased for the first time in three years. Men can now expect to live approximately 81.09 years, representing a slight increase of 0.04 years since 2022, while women's life expectancy has risen by 0.05 years to reach 87.14 years.

The improvement in these figures is significantly influenced by a reduction in deaths caused by the novel coronavirus. After a spike in COVID-19-related fatalities, which rose from 16,766 in 2021 to 47,638 in 2022, the number dropped to 38,080 in 2023. Additionally, cancer mortality rates among the elderly have also decreased, with cancer deaths falling from 385,797 in 2022 to 382,492 in 2023.

Despite this positive trend, average life expectancy in Japan has yet to bounce back to the levels seen prior to the pandemic, which recorded an all-time high of 81.56 years for men and 87.71 years for women in 2020. An official from the health ministry highlighted that while differences in statistical methods may exist, Japanese men rank fifth globally for life expectancy, and women have held the top position since 1985. Overall, these statistics reflect Japan's high standards of health and welfare.