Norway stands out in Europe as the only country where life expectancy continues to rise steadily, according to a new study published in The Lancet.

While other European nations have seen a slowdown in life expectancy growth since 2011, Norway has maintained its upward trend.

Between 1990 and 2021, Norway's life expectancy increased at a faster rate compared to other countries, with the latest figures showing 81.4 years for men and 84.6 years for women in 2023. Researchers noted that this trend persisted even before the COVID-19 pandemic, which had little to no impact on life expectancy in Norway.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre highlighted this achievement in his New Year’s speech, emphasizing the nation’s health progress.

The study analyzed data from 20 Western European countries, making Norway a unique exception in the region.