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F5: Education, health and social protection; F3: Labour market

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The indicator Healthy Life Years (HLY) at birth measures the number of years that a person at birth is still expected to live in a healthy condition. HLY is a health expectancy indicator which combines information on mortality and morbidity. The data required are the age-specific prevalence (proportions) of the population in healthy and unhealthy conditions and age-specific mortality information. A healthy condition is defined by the absence of limitations in functioning/disability. The indicator is calculated separately for males and females. The indicator is also called disability-free life expectancy (DFLE). Life expectancy at birth is defined as the mean number of years still to be lived by a person at birth, if subjected throughout the rest of his or her life to the current mortality conditions.

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EU, EFTA, Candidate countries and Acceding countries

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Availability of Healthy Life Years indicator from:

• 2004: BE, DK, EL, IE, LU, AT, NO, EE, ES, FR, IT, PT, FI, SE, IS
• 2005: CZ, DE, CY, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, SI, SK, UK
• 2006: BG, TR
• 2007: RO
• 2008: CH
• 2010: HR

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Decision 2367/2002/EC of the European Parliament and the Council (2002) on the Community statistical programme 2003 to 2007

Decision No 1786/2002EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (2002) adopting a programme of Community action in the field of public health (2003-2008), OJEC L 271/10.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1983/2003 implementing Regulation (EC) 1177/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning Community statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC) as regards the list of target primary variables

Commission COM (2004) 0029 of 21/01/2004 - report from the Commission to the Spring European Council delivering Lisbon reforms for the enlarged Union

The Commission Communication COM (2003) 585 (2003) on structural indicators recommends to develop an indicator to measure Healthy Life Years

DG Directorate General for Health & Consumers

Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.

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In line with the EU legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Dissemination format') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.

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Publications

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Eurostat's mission is to provide the European Union with a high-quality statistical information service (see Eurostat quality framework)

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Relevance and accuracy are considered as very high. The major issue on quality which asked for correction concerns comparability over time and between countries.

Objective and relevance of the indicator:

The indicator Healthy Life Years (HLY) is a solid indicator to monitor health as a productivity/economic factor. Healthy life years introduce the concept of quality of life.

Life expectancy, as calculated by Eurostat, is expressed as the number of years a person may expect to live, starting from age zero. Other ages can also be chosen as a starting point: the life expectancy at a certain age is the number of years a person of that age may expect to live, if mortality patterns stay unchanged. Life expectancy is normally calculated separately for all age levels, as well as for males, females and the total population.

One of the objective of the EU sustainable development strategy, launched by the European Council in Gothenburg in 2001 and renewed in June 2006, is the continuous improvement of quality of life for current and future generations. Public health was singled out as one of the four priority areas for the sustainable development strategy. The Council noted that the possibility of creating of a European surveillance and early warning network on health issues need to be examined.

The Europa 2020 strategy states that actions should be taken now to ensure the current and future generations may continue to enjoy high quality of life, underpinned by Europe's unique social models. This is an agenda for all Member States, taking into account different needs, different starting points and national specificities so as to promote growth for all. What is needed is a common strategy to turn the EU into a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy delivering high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion.

One of the main flag initiatives of Europa 2020 is ‘Innovation Union’ which aims to re-focus R&D and innovation policy on the challenges facing our society, such as climate change, energy and resource efficiency, health and demographic change. Every link should be strengthened in the innovation chain, from 'blue skies' research to commercialisation.

In addition, the Commission presented health as a prerequisite for economic prosperity in its Financial Perspectives 2007-2013 Communication, where it also stressed the economic impact of illnesses on productivity and work.

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The indicators ‘Healthy life years at age 65’ and 'Life expectancy at 65' are related with several socio-economic policies including economic performance, retirement, social security and health care, and with many environmental policies. The indicators are thus to be seen together with other 'Public Health' and ‘Demographic changes’ but also economic and environmental indicators illustrating the numerous threats and challenges set by an ageing population.

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