As children, you were probably taught that life expectancy was around 75 maybe 80 at a stretch.

However, recent breakthroughs in science and medicine have begun to challenge preexisting assumptions about human longevity.

An international team of scientists funded by the UK Medical Research Council and U.S Environmental Protection Agency has just published a study on life expectancy in the medical journal Lancet.

The findings of the study come with some caveats, but shows a significant rise in life expectancy in most of the 35 developed countries that were studied.

One notable exception is the U.S, where a combination of obesity, risks at childbirth, homicides and a lack of equal access to healthcare is inhibiting the rise. Life expectancy in the U.S is predicted to lag so much behind other developed nations that it will be around parity with Mexico by 2030. Dont tell Trump.

Of all the developed nations studied, South Korea is likely to see the largest increase in life expectancy. According to the study, there is a 90 percent probability that South Korean women will live longer than 86.7 years.

The study also showed that men, who tend to live shorter lives, are closing the gap on life expectancy.

According to the study, Aussies are kicking goals when it comes to living.

The key to longevity may also be a really big knife

Male Australians born in 2010 can expect to live to around 80, which is currently longer than any other country. However, it is predicted that by 2030, South Korean male babies will overtake this and are expected to live to around 84.

Meanwhile, female Australians are currently ranked fourth in life expectancy at around 84. Aussie sheilas born in 2030 can expect to live to the ripe old age of 87ish.

Along with South Korea and Australia, Switzerland, Canada, New Zealand and Japan are also doing well.

By 2030, the populations with the highest life expectancies are predicted to be:

1. South Korea 2. France, Japan 3. Spain 4. Switzerland 5. Australia

For men it will be:

1. South Korea 2. Australia 3. Switzerland 4. Canada 5. Netherlands

The study utilised 21 different models of life expectancy in order to come up with as definitive predictions as possible. However, when dealing with the future there is always a degree of uncertainty.

The authors posit that South Koreas top position is most likely due to improvements in the economy and education. In addition, infant mortality has dropped and nutrition has improved. Obesity, something that Aussies need to be wary of, is not a huge issue in South Korea and very few women smoke.

Professor Majid Ezzati, an author of the study, told BBC News:

South Korea has gotten a lot of things right They seem to have been a more equal place and things that have benefited people education, nutrition have benefited most people. And so far, they are better at dealing with hypertension and have some of the lowest obesity rates in the world.

The countries performing well all invest in universal healthcare systems which reach or attempt to reach the entire population.

In Australia, we are lucky enough to have such a system.

Stefan is an Adelaide-based writer who has returned to Australia after living in Taiwan for 14 years. In his spare time he plays nerdy board games, collects vinyl and brushes up on his Mandarin.

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Aussies should prep for immortality, as life expectancy rises - Techly