The average life expectancy in Israel is 80.3 years for men and 84.1 for women, according to a report released Wednesday by the Central Bureau of Statistics. The figures apply to the year 2014, and the report found that while there was no change in men's life expectancy from 2013 to 2014, women's life expectancy rose 0.2 years in that period. The Israeli cities with the longest and shortest average life expectancies are Ramat Gan and Bat Yam respectively, both adjacent to Tel Aviv. Ramat Gan residents live an average of 84.3 years, while Bat Yam residents live to an average of 80.5 years. Life expectancy in the medium-large cities of Rehovot and Rishon Lezion stands at 83.3 years and 83 years, respectively. The average life expectancy in Petach Tikva, Haifa, Netanya, Bnei Brak, and Jerusalem ranges from 82.1 to 82.7 years. Residents of southern Israel live shorter lives, with life expectancy in Beersheba, Ashkelon and Ashdod ranging from 81 to 81.1 years. Overall, based on data from 2013, Israel ranked seventh-highest among OECD member nations, with a national average life expectancy of 82.1 years. Average life expectancy in Israel is shorter by 1.3 years than the longest-living ranked nation, Japan, but higher by 1.6 years than the average in OECD countries. The gap in life expectancy between men and women in Israel is one of the lowest in the world. The average life expectancy gap in OECD nations is currently 5.3 years, and Iceland is the only country that has a narrower gender gap in average life expectancy. The Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand, and the U.K. all boast life expectancy gender gaps similar to that of Israel.
