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50.1 years.
According to the World Health Organization, this is the average life expectancy
in the country of Sierra Leone.
As of now, one of the lowest in the world.
At the other end of the spectrum, we have countries like Italy, Iceland, Singapore & Switzerland
all with an average life expectancy well into their 80’s.
Now beating all those countries however, is of course Japan
topping the list at 83.7 years.
(Note that the UN data is a little different).
Regardless, this is the country with the longest average life expectancy.
But, this video is not about Japan, because there is a city with an even longer life expectancy.
This is Hong Kong, a city with over 7.4 million people
living on about a thousand square kilometres of land (or 400 square miles).
One of the most densely populated places on the planet - a fast paced city that never sleeps.
It’s a city of contradictions with towering buildings next to lush green mountains,
street food stalls alongside McDonald’s & KFC’s,
markets selling cheap counterfeits in front of designer stores
but the most surprising perhaps is the extremely long life expectancy
of the people living in what is one of the most polluted cities in the world.
Hong Kong has an average life expectancy of 84.3 years.
Ironically enough, Hong Kong, or Heung Gong as it’s pronounced in Cantonese
literally translates to ‘Fragrant Harbour’.
This title may have been more fitting back in the day when fragrant wood products and incense
were traded in the region
but today, in all its smoggy glory, it’s perhaps just another addition to the city of contradictions.
With the 200,000 plus red taxis trawling the roads, uniform high-rises impacting air circulation,
idling engines of cars, trucks, buses;
cargo-ship emissions, giant coal-fired power stations,
and the thousands of factories in neighbouring Mainland China puffing out fumes,
pollution is considered a serious problem in Hong Kong.
Note the city has among the highest density of vehicles in the world
and visibility there is also less than eight kilometers for 30% of the year.
When London was hit by The Great Smog of 1952, one of the worst air pollution events in history,
an estimated 12,000 people died due to the high concentrations.
So it’s no surprise that in Hong Kong, bad air quality is responsible for about 90,000 hospital admissions
and 2800 premature deaths every year.
A study found that air pollution in Hong Kong increased the risk of dying from
any type of cancer by 22%.
So, what’s going on here?
How can this not-so-fragrant, "Fragrant Harbour" harbour a population
with the longest average life expectancy in the world?
Japan had traditionally been the one to beat, but over the last few decades,
Hong Kong had caught up in a huge way, overtaking Japan about five years ago.
Ok, if we take a look at where Hong Kong is positioned,
it’s in a region that’s not too hot and not too cold.
It’s a subtropical climate which makes life easier and more comfortable.
There aren’t, for example, harsh winter months that take a toll on the elderly
like in the US or UK where there’s an excess of deaths during wintertime.
But, other places or countries also known for longevity
can actually have very different climates than Hong Kong
so this certainly isn’t the only factor.
In fact, this is just the first of eight that I’ll be covering.
The last two here I find particularly fascinating.
Now of course food is on this list.
Hong Kong’s geographical access to good food isn’t surprising
given the region’s position as a marine and land gateway to many parts of Asia.
The local cuisine is also in many ways similar to the Mediterranean diet
which most if not all major scientific organizations encourage for prevention of major chronic diseases.
They also drink copious amounts of herbal tea which has plenty of antioxidants
and lowers blood pressure levels.
Not surprisingly, like in many parts of Asia, you see very few big or overweight people in Hong Kong
actually I’ve already covered some of this in my video on
why Asians supposedly don’t get fat (a reference to the stereotype)
which you can find in the description below.
Right, accessibility is also a factor.
Despite living in a dense urban area, Hong Kongers have easy access to most amenities
there are numerous walkways and footbridges that seem to connect anything to everything
actually it can be quite a maze
but this means more walking and less driving (which is good).
And this despite public transportation being easy and cheap.
Beaches and mountains are just a short drive away so taking part in physical outdoor activities
like swimming and hiking is not an issue.
And speaking of keeping fit, people in Hong Kong are always consciously aware
of the need to exercise.
There seems to be a slight obsession with jogging in particular
at least compared to other place I’ve been to.
It’s a frequent sight to see people of all shapes and sizes
and of all ages (so it’s not just the hardcores)
running outside on the narrow walking routes.
For older people, if not jogging, you’ll see many of them up early in parks and gardens
practicing Tai Chi or Qigong.
And these places they practice in, have been designed with their needs and capacities in mind.
It’s an enabling environment, where almost all districts in Hong Kong are members of
the WHO global network of age-friendly cities.
Now, here comes the sexy stuff, because Hong Kong’s healthcare system is also top notch.
Older people generally do not have to pay for primary care
and everyone has access to hospital treatment.
Nobody here is denied due to a lack of means
and not surprisingly accessible health care leads to longevity.
The downside though is that people tend to go to doctors or emergency rooms
a little too often.
Final note here is that Hong Kong also has a low proportion of smokers
where only about 10% of the population smoke every day
you can compare this with the 20% in Japan.
Ok, here’s a statement: “people who live alone, die sooner”.
Many studies have shown this.
However this isn’t an issue in Hong Kong, because, like in many east Asian societies,
there’s a cultural emphasis on respect and care for the elders
strong family ties lead to considerable financial and social support for people as they get older.
You’ll often see large families dining together for their weekly dimsum
with younger members of the family ensuring grandma or grandpa is served first, and served well.
Family comes first, whether you like it or not
and it’s not uncommon to find three or four generations of the family living under one roof.
With all this care and attention, how can it not improve lifespan?
And it’s not just family... but friends.
Hong Kong’s senior citizens love a bit of socializing.
They also love their mahjong; a super popular centuries-old Chinese tile game
often played in side alleyways and in parlors.
Ageing experts say this mentally stimulating game helps with the retention of memory
delaying the onset of dementia.
And all this is assuming they’re not still working
because in Hong Kong, there is no statutory retirement age
so you’ll find many working well beyond the age of 65
which isn’t such a bad thing as prolonged engagement in organized work
often leads to a higher age of mortality.
Alright, now, we’re at the most fascinating point of all (at least I find it fascinating).
Let me explain.
An estimated 70% of Hong Kongers over the age of 70 were NOT born in Hong Kong.
They were born in mainland China, having come over in search of better opportunities
they had suffered greatly from the Cultural Revolution, which included vast famine.
Right now, these people are at an age where they should be dying
indeed that’s what’s happening to their relatives and peers back in their village.
But they aren’t, at least not at the same rate.
And this seems to point to one thing - their attitude.
Because, the ones that made it to Hong Kong had to be tough - both physically and mentally.
They climbed, they ran, they swam
and there were many who attempted the journey that didn’t make it.
Neither East Germans climbing the Berlin Wall
nor the North Koreans crossing over to China
were comparable to this mass exodus to Hong Kong.
So, why are they not yet dying off?
Well, the physical and psychological attributes that helped them get to Hong Kong in the first place
may in part be responsible for what’s driving them forward today.
Thus at least for the present time, and in combination with the previous factors
this has lead to Hong Kong having the longest average life expectancy
despite being one of the most polluted cities in the world.
Which makes you wonder - how long they would actually live for
(and get ready for an outdated reference here)
if not for Hong Kong’s 50 shades of grey.
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