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Life expectancy in Japan fell for the first time in 10 years in 2021 as the country grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, data from Japan's health ministry showed today, BTV reported.

The data showed that female life expectancy was 87.57 years, down 0.14 years from the previous year, while male life expectancy decreased by 0.09 years to 81.47 years. 

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It was the first decline since 2011, when a powerful earthquake and tsunami rocked northeastern Japan, causing radioactive leaks at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant that killed more than 15,000 and left dozens missing.

Despite the decline, Japan ranks first in female life expectancy, followed by South Korea at 86.5 years and Singapore at 85.9 years.

Japan has the third highest life expectancy for men after Switzerland, where they live an average of 81.6 years, and in Norway 81.59 years.

life expectancy

Japan