Spain is the world's healthiest places to live
By October 6, 2022 3 min read
Here is the list of the 20 healthiest places to live in the world.
The report is based on life expectancy, the cost to be healthy, air pollution, obesity rates, safety, and sunlight hours.
Spain is the healthiest country in the world
Spain is officially the healthiest country in the world, ranking number one on our index. In Spain, the people follow a Mediterranean diet consisting of healthy sources of omega-3, fats, and protein, which studies have associated with a decreased risk of dementia, heart disease and cancer - placing the country in the top five for greater life expectancy.
A Mediterranean lifestyle follows these key principles: sociable mealtimes, a balanced diet, and an emphasis on walking as a mode of transport, which helps to lower deaths caused by pollution. Sociable mealtimes have been found to decrease the risk of obesity and also promote a healthy mental wellbeing. Having a dedicated time to connect with family and friends acts as a mood booster, produces endorphins, and increases the overall wellbeing of the population.
The people of Spain live by the saying, “Trabajamos para vivir, no vivimos para trabajar” meaning “we work to live, not live to work”. Their cost of living is moderate. A two-bedroom property costs on average 162.000 euro which is more affordable than most European countries.
Valencia is the healthiest city in the world
Valencia is more than just a city famous for its Paella, it is also the healthiest city in the world! This beautiful Spanish city places joint third on our index for greatest life expectancy due to an array of lifestyle factors.
Firstly, this city has the ideal climate. It’s not too hot and not too dry, so there is plenty of greenery to provide clean air. Valencia also has lots of sunshine, so you can easily absorb that all-important vitamin D needed to keep your muscles strong. The sea breeze helps to blow away excess pollution in the air and their diet is also well balanced. Valencian paella is a great representation of their diet. Their famous dish has excellent nutritional value from fresh produce, is low in fats and high in omega-3 and protein from the fish.
Like many of the healthiest countries, this city also promotes an easy-going and relaxed lifestyle. It is renowned for its musical and cultural heritage and encourages social interaction. Rather than being defined by their jobs like many other cities, the people of Valencia define themselves by making personal and meaningful connections with their friends and family, ultimately creating one of the healthiest communities in the world.
Methodology
Individual data rankings for cities were taken from the following sources:
Following this, each ranking was collated and compared with one another to create a finalised ranking for each city. All locations were compiled using ranking factors of life expectancy, cost of healthy foods, deaths caused by air pollution, crime rates, hours of sunlight per year and obesity levels.
Once ranked, the top 20 countries and cities were collated to be the healthiest places to live, and average property prices are based on the cost of a two-bedroom apartment.