What is the average life expectancy in Japan as of 2018?

Okinawa, Japan, where hundreds of residents are over 100 years old, is often known as "the land of immortals." In 2017 the number of people 90 years old and above in Japan hit the 2 million mark.

According to the World Health Organization, in 2018, the average life expectancy in Japan is 84.2 years old. Men live an average of 81.1 years, and women live an average of 87.1 years.

Diet is one reason for the country's population of "centenarians," or people older than 100 years. When the Japanese eat meat, they eat mostly heart-healthy fish, rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Other popular foods include tofu, seaweed and octopus, all of which carry a low risk for some cancers and arteriosclerosis.

Japan's health care system is one of the most accessible in the world. The government pays 70 percent of the cost of all health procedures and up to 90 percent for low-income citizens.