Does Madeira Have A Higher Life Expectancy Than Mainland Portugal?
In a recent speech during Machico's anniversary celebrations, Pedro Ramos, Madeira’s Regional Secretary of Health and Civil Protection, claimed that Madeira boasts a higher life expectancy compared to mainland Portugal. However, a closer examination of the statistics reveals a different story. Between 2020 and 2023, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted life expectancy figures. Ramos highlighted the achievements of Madeira's health service (SESARAM) compared to the National Health Service (SNS), attributing Madeira's supposed higher life expectancy to superior healthcare quality in the region.
Pedro Ramos Is Contradicting Numbers Of The National Statistics Institute
Despite Ramos’s assertions, data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) indicates otherwise. During 2020-2022, the national average life expectancy at birth was 80.96 years, with men living an average of 78.05 years and women 83.52 years. In contrast, Madeira's average life expectancy stood at 78.77 years—below the national average and only slightly higher than the Azores, which recorded the lowest at 78.04 years.
Women In Madeira Live 6.58 Years Longer
Historically, Madeira has consistently lagged behind other regions, with life expectancy at birth being the second lowest in the country since 2010. The regional data shows that women in Madeira can expect to live 6.58 years longer than men, a significant gender disparity observed in both Madeira and the Azores.
Source: Diário de NotĂcias da Madeira
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