Quick answer
Healthspan is the number of years you live in good health, free from serious chronic disease and disability. Lifespan is simply how long you live. Globally, people now spend an average of 9.6 years of life in poor health, and in the US that gap reaches 12.4 years. Closing it is the goal of modern longevity care.
Key takeaways
- Lifespan measures years lived. Healthspan measures years lived well.
- Across 183 countries the healthspan-lifespan gap has widened to 9.6 years, and it is largest in the US at 12.4 years.
- Women live longer but spend on average 2.4 more years in poor health than men.
- The gap is driven mainly by non-communicable diseases, many of which are influenced by daily habits.
- Strength, fitness, sleep, nutrition and early detection through biomarkers are the most evidence-backed levers.
Healthspan vs lifespan: what is the difference?
Lifespan is how long you live. Healthspan is how long you live in good health, able to do the things you value without being limited by chronic disease or disability.
Researchers often estimate healthspan with health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE), which weights years lived by health status. The difference between life expectancy and HALE is the healthspan-lifespan gap: the years spent living with illness or disability.
How big is the healthspan-lifespan gap?
A 2024 study in JAMA Network Open analysed two decades of World Health Organization data across 183 member states. It found the gap has widened globally to 9.6 years. Women had a gap on average 2.4 years wider than men, and the United States had the largest gap of all at 12.4 years 1.
The study linked larger gaps to a higher burden of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal conditions and mental health disorders. A follow-up analysis found the size and causes of the gap differ between world regions, and projected it to keep widening without action 2.
Why healthspan matters more than lifespan
Extra years are only as valuable as what you can do with them: keeping up with grandchildren, travelling, working on your own terms, living independently. For families, a longer healthspan also means fewer years of caregiving and more years of shared time.
The encouraging part is that many drivers of the gap are modifiable. Genetics matters, but daily habits and early detection shape a large share of how the later decades feel.
How to increase your healthspan: the evidence-based levers
1. Build and keep muscle and balance
Strength and balance protect independence. For adults aged 65 and over at increased risk of falls, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommends exercise interventions to prevent falls, a B-grade recommendation 3.
2. Keep your cardiovascular fitness
Regular aerobic activity supports heart, metabolic and brain health. Wearable data such as resting heart rate and HRV can help you see fitness trends over time.
3. Prioritise sleep
Consistent, sufficient sleep underpins recovery, metabolic health and mood.
4. Eat for your biology
Protein adequacy, fibre and a diet built around minimally processed foods matter more than any single supplement.
5. Measure, don’t guess
Blood biomarkers can reveal risk years before symptoms. Knowing your numbers turns vague intentions into specific actions.
6. Use supplements to fill real gaps
Large reviews find little benefit from taking vitamins and minerals by default to prevent heart disease or cancer in people without deficiencies 4. Supplements work best when they target a measured need.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between healthspan and longevity?
Longevity usually refers to lifespan, how long you live. Healthspan focuses on how many of those years are spent in good health. Modern longevity science increasingly aims to extend healthspan, not just lifespan.
Can you measure your healthspan?
Not directly, but you can track markers linked to it: strength, aerobic fitness, blood biomarkers such as HbA1c and ApoB, blood pressure, sleep and body composition. Improving these is associated with better long-term health.
Why do women have a larger healthspan-lifespan gap?
Women live longer on average but spend more years with chronic conditions and disability. The 2024 global analysis found their gap was on average 2.4 years wider than men’s.
Is it too late to improve healthspan in your 50s or 60s?
No. Strength training, better sleep, improved fitness and managing risk factors all bring benefits at any age. Exercise to prevent falls, for example, is specifically recommended for adults aged 65 and over.
Sources
- Garmany A, et al. Global healthspan-lifespan gaps among 183 World Health Organization member states. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(12):e2450241. doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.50241
- Garmany A, et al. Healthspan-lifespan gap differs in magnitude and disease contribution across world regions. Commun Med (Lond). 2025;5(1):381. doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-01111-2
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Interventions to prevent falls in community-dwelling older adults: recommendation statement. JAMA. 2024;332(1):51–57. doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.8481
- O'Connor EA, et al. Vitamin and mineral supplements for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA. 2022;327(23):2334–2347. doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.15650
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information and education only and is not medical advice. It does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a qualified clinician. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting supplements, especially if you are pregnant, take medicines or have a medical condition. Evidence reviewed as of 16 September 2026.
