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For years, we've been bombarded with the idea that a 100-year life is inevitable.
Financial advisors, wellness gurus, and corporate marketers have built an entire industry around the concept that you must prepare for a century on this planet.
They push longer working lives, endless retirement savings, and health hacks that promise to keep you going well past your hundredth birthday.
Here's the problem: the numbers don't back it up.
Life Expectancy Isn't Skyrocketing… And It's Misunderstood
The reality is that life expectancy in many developed countries has stagnated, and in some cases, it's even declining.
Research from Nature Aging (2024) analysed data from long-lived countries like Japan, Sweden, and Switzerland and found that while life expectancy increased dramatically in the 20th century, gains have slowed significantly since 1990. (who.int)
One major misconception about rising life expectancy is that it means more people will live to extreme old age. In reality, much of the historical improvement in life expectancy is due to dramatic reductions in child mortality rather than increased longevity in later years.
In 1900, one in five children in the U.S. died before their fifth birthday. By 2020, that number had fallen to fewer than 1 in 200.
This means that the increase in average life expectancy is heavily skewed by fewer people dying young, not because more people are making it to 100.
The number of people living into their late 80s and 90s has risen, but the percentage reaching 100 remains small and is not increasing at the same rate as overall life expectancy.
Population Growth Has Inflated the Number of Centenarians
Another misleading statistic often used to fuel the 100-year life myth is the absolute number of centenarians increasing.
While it's true that there are more people aged 100+ today than in the past, this is largely due to overall population growth rather than a higher likelihood of individuals reaching 100.
The global population has more than tripled since 1950, rising from 2.5 billion to over 8 billion today. (who.int)
The number of centenarians worldwide is estimated to be 722,000 in 2024, but as a percentage of the global population, their share is actually decreasing.
In Japan, where life expectancy is among the highest in the world, centenarians account for just 0.06% of the population.
This means that while absolute numbers look impressive in marketing headlines, the actual probability of an individual reaching 100 has not drastically increased.
The myth of the 100-year life is being pushed as if it's a universal reality when, in fact, it remains a statistical rarity.
A Scare Tactic That Drives Industry Profits
Here is where I put the cat amongst the pigeons!
The idea of a century-long life isn't just a hopeful dream—it's a business model.
The financial industry wants you to believe you need millions in retirement savings.
Wellness industries thrive on selling you supplements, longevity diets, and anti-aging treatments.
Employers use the narrative to justify raising retirement ages and cutting pensions.
By convincing people, they will live longer, governments can justify delaying retirement ages, reducing pension payouts, and shifting more of the financial burden onto individuals.
A longer working life means more tax revenue, with people staying in the workforce rather than drawing from social security or pension systems.
It also diverts attention from real public health issues, such as the rising burden of chronic disease and healthcare system shortcomings, by making longevity seem like an individual responsibility rather than a societal challenge.
In reality:
You're more likely to live into your 80s or early 90s, not 100. (who.int)
Healthspan matters more than lifespan—just because you live longer doesn't mean you'll be thriving. (who.int)
Many retirement strategies are based on outdated assumptions, making people feel unnecessary anxiety about their future finances.
Healthspan Matters More Than Lifespan
One of the biggest flaws in the push for a 100-year life is the failure to distinguish between lifespan (how long you live) and healthspan (how long you live in good health).
Simply living longer is not the goal... living well is!
The average American spends nearly 20% of their later years in poor health. (CDC)
Chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s are rising, meaning many of the additional years gained are spent battling illness. (World Health Organisation)
A landmark study from the Harvard Study on Adult Development found that social relationships and purpose were the biggest predictors of a long and fulfilling life—not extreme diets, biohacking, or relentless pursuit of longevity. (Harvard Gazette)
In the United States, the average life expectancy is 78.6 years, while in England and Wales, it's 81.3 years. (publichealth.jhu.edu)
However, the healthy life expectancy—the number of years individuals can expect to live in good health—is significantly lower. In England, males can expect to spend 61.5 years in good health, and females 61.9 years. (ons.gov.uk)
This disparity means that a substantial portion of life is spent dealing with health issues, emphasising the importance of focusing on healthspan over mere lifespan.
Instead of obsessing over lifespan, society should focus on improving healthspan. That means:
Prioritising preventive healthcare over reactive treatments.
Encouraging physical activity rather than relying on medical interventions later.
Investing in social and mental well-being as much as physical health.
What Should You Really Plan For?
Instead of obsessing over hitting 100, focus on what actually improves your quality of life:
Maximise healthspan: Exercise, eat well, and avoid habits that increase disease risk. Live well, not just long.
Financial security, not fear: Save smartly and spend wisely but don't panic over outliving your money, realistic planning is key.
Work-life balance: Don't assume you'll be working into your 80s. Burnout is real, and retirement should be an option, not a gamble.
Social connections: One of the biggest predictors of longevity isn't diet or exercise—it's meaningful relationships.
Bottom Line: Don't Buy the 100-Year Life Hype
The data is clear: most people won't reach 100, and those who do often face significant health challenges.
Planning for a long, fulfilling life is important, but don't let fear-mongering and corporate agendas dictate how you live today.
A good life isn't about counting years. It's about making the years count.
And if you’re 60 today? Your actual chance of reaching 100 is just 6-7% if you're a woman, and as low as 3% if you're a man.
While I think this post is directionally correct - for instance, not turning a bucket list into a stress item, increased focus on healthspan, as well as good points about how the statistics may be misleading, I think it misses a few counterpoints:
1) Rather than using general stats for life expectancy, get something more specific to you, such as https://www.livingto100.com/calculator. I have a couple issues with it's wording and some recommendations are a bit outdated, but it should be closer than generalities without considering individual circumstances.
2) Unless relying on lifetime annuitized income sources, it is prudent to plan for longer than life expectancy, as planning for only life expectancy would result in an expected 50% failure rate in…