How Europeans see themselves ageing

While nearly three in four Europeans want to live as long as possible, this aspiration is closely tied to health. For 88% of them, living a long life only makes sense if they can stay healthy. This expectation puts prevention and anticipation at the heart of the challenges of aging well.

A majority of Europeans view increased longevity positively. 78% see aging as an opportunity for time to themselves, 69% for discovering new things and traveling, and 68% as an enriching stage of life. But this aspiration for longevity goes hand in hand with a strong expectation: preserving one's health for as long as possible. Indeed, 87% believe that aging is a stage that must be anticipated in order to stay healthy.

This aspiration is shared across the six countries studied, though with some differences: 87% of Spaniards want to live as long as possible, ahead of Italians (80%), Germans (70%), the French (68%), Belgians (67%), and the Dutch (66%).

At the collective level, aging well also emerges as a major issue: 84% of Europeans believe it should be a national priority, while only 32% currently believe that society is ready to cope with its aging population.

While a majority of Europeans approach their own aging with a sense of calm, fewer than one in two believe they will age in good health. Perceptions vary considerably by country: 66% of Spaniards say they feel at ease about aging, compared with 63% of the Dutch, 59% of Germans, 52% of Italians, 49% of Belgians, and 47% of the French.

Physical and cognitive health is the top concern among those who are worried about aging (88%), ahead of the possible impact on their lifestyle (66%) and loneliness or the loss of loved ones (57%). Preserving one's independence, being able to keep doing what one enjoys, and maintaining ties with loved ones thus emerge as essential dimensions of aging well.

Loved ones also play a central role in how Europeans envision growing older: 70% believe they can count on their family, ranging from 65% in Germany to 79% in Spain. At the same time, 66% fear becoming too great a burden on their loved ones as they age.

For a majority of Europeans, aging well is something you prepare for well before old age. Six in ten believe it is possible to delay the effects of aging on health. This belief is especially strong in Spain (70%), ahead of France and Italy (61%), Germany (60%), Belgium (55%), and the Netherlands (54%).

This forward planning is already reflected in people's habits. Among Europeans aged 35 and over, 75% say they have adopted healthy lifestyle habits, 61% are saving to prepare financially for old age, and 54% have set up medical monitoring to help prevent potential illnesses.

Science and innovation also carry high expectations: 77% of Europeans believe they can help people live better with the effects of aging, and 65% believe they can help delay those effects. More than a desire for ever-greater longevity, their expectations center first and foremost on the ability to preserve health, independence, and quality of life for longer.

This study is part of Clariane's research and knowledge-building program on the major challenges of healthy aging. Conducted by OpinionWay for Clariane among 12,078 people aged 18 and over in Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, it is freely available in the document below.