Blue Zone Singapore – beyond longevity

CHALKING up yet another credential, Singapore was recently added to the list of the world’s Blue Zones – places where people live “extraordinarily long and vibrant lives”, alongside idyllic isles such as Japan’s Okinawa and Italy’s Sardinia.

There might have been some fascination and pride, but by and large Singaporeans greeted the accolade more with surprise and scepticism, and not just because the densely built-up city-state couldn’t be more different than the rest of the seeming-placid paradises popularised by the Netflix docuseries Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones.

Indeed, Singapore is deemed an engineered Blue Zone 2.0, where the average lifespan has risen as a result of policy, be it in the form of nudges to eat healthier (with different grades of sugar levels on beverage labels, for example) or having an efficient public transport system and park network to encourage people to walk more. And not least, it’s perhaps a reflection of a world-class healthcare system.

In the online reactions to Singapore’s Blue Zone honour, Singaporeans piled on the litany of grouses that mark daily life here, from the high cost of living to the hyper-competitive education system and generally stressful pace of life.

To be sure, Singapore’s current life expectancy of 84 years – compared to the global average of 73 – is a solid, happy achievement. But many citizens reckon the indicator has more to do with medical advances improving healthcare and extending life here, rather than is any reflection of truly healthy living and wholesome quality of life.

More pertinently, as pointed out by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, the current gap of 10 years between lifespan and health-span (74) – how long one stays healthy – needs to narrow further. Too many people spend the last decade or so of their twilight years in poor health.

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But more than longevity and health, the focus needs also to shift to one of living and ageing well. The emphasis should not just be on living a long life, but a full one. After all, what good is a long life if you are lonely, unhappy or can barely make ends meet?

This is perhaps where the other Blue Zones – with their serene island or mountain village life, unique diets and traditions – stand out, with their emphases on strong community bonds, a sense of purpose, and stress relief. 

Two areas that Singapore should focus on are mental health and retirement adequacy.

One recent sad statistic – Singapore saw the highest number of suicides in more than 20 years in 2022, with the increase particularly high among youths and the elderly. Reasons behind this include loneliness and social isolation – issues that not only impact quality of life but are also associated with health risks.

Retirement planning is another issue that warrants more attention as people live longer, not least since Singapore is a relatively pricey place in terms of living expenses. More needs to be done to increase financial literacy, particularly for lower-income groups and the growing segment of gig-economy workers. This needs to start early.  

Policy push can only do so much, however. Ultimately, people will need to define and decide for themselves what it means to lead a full life and to age well. Can any government alone successfully nudge and inspire its citizens to find purpose in their lives? People can be incentivised to live well, but ultimately the onus is on themselves to lead their lives in a way that gives them meaning.