SPAIN: One of the longest-lived populations in the world

SPAIN has one of the longest-lived populations in the world with an average life expectancy of 82.9 years.

But there are variations as a woman anywhere in Spain can expect to live longer than a male, according to Spain’s National Statistics’ Institute (INE).

Geography plays a part with a noticeable north-south divide so a woman in Soria can look forward to celebrating her 88th birthday but a male living in Sevilla has a 78-year life expectancy.  A Madrid male should live until he is 81.9 years old and a Basque from Alava until he is 81.2.

The north-south divide continues with income, which the INE figures show is inextricably linked to longevity as the Alava man earns an average €35,175 and his Sevilla counterpart €18,223.

Even the longest lives come to an end and still more statistics, this time from a life insurance company, reveal that it is cheaper to die in Zamora than Gerona, where a burial costs 29.2 per cent more than Spain’s €5,987 average.

Madrid is the next most expensive with a 27.4 per cent difference, followed by  Barcelona with 21 per cent.

In contrast, Zamora is 40 per cent cheaper, followed by Ceuta (39 per cent) and Melilla (37 per cent).