[Global Focus] Singapore, a 'Longevity' Blue Zone, Attributes Success to 'Walking' Promotion Policies

Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy, Ikaria in Greece, Nicoya in Costa Rica, and Loma Linda in California, USA. The commonality among these five regions is that they are so-called "Blue Zones," areas where many centenarians reside. Recently, Singapore, an Asian financial hub, has been added to this list. Unlike the existing five Blue Zones, which share similar natural environments and lifestyles, Singapore stands out as a major metropolitan city itself. Dan Buettner, who coined the term Blue Zone, defined Singapore as "Blue Zone 2.0, the next-generation aging pioneer."

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

"A Designed Longevity City"... Singapore Becomes Blue Zone 2.0 with a 'Healthy Life Expectancy of 74 Years'

How did Singapore, a busy, fast-paced, and congested city-state, become included in the Blue Zones, icons of longevity? The answer lies in its policies. Economic media CNBC reported in an interview with Buettner that "Singapore has 'engineered' a city where people can live to 100." The focus is on policies that build an environment conducive to longevity.

Now, the goal is not just to live longer but to live healthily longer. Buettner, who has traveled the world studying the lifestyles of centenarians, introduced Singapore as having the highest health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) in the world. HALE refers to the number of years a person can live in full health by subtracting the years lived with disease, disability, or injury from the average life expectancy.

Singapore's national broadcaster CNA cited the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study, reporting that "Singapore ranks first in the world ahead of Japan in both life expectancy and healthy life expectancy," adding, "On average, people live to 84 years, and more importantly, the period of healthy living averages 74 years, the longest in the world." According to Buettner, the number of centenarians living in Singapore has more than doubled over the past decade.

Singapore is not stopping there; it is also working to narrow the roughly 10-year gap between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. To this end, the government has expanded the target of the prevention-focused national health program, 'Healthier SG,' to include those aged 40 and above. Ong Ye Kung, Singapore's Minister for Health, emphasized that Singapore is distinctly different from other Blue Zones, stating, "Singapore as a Blue Zone is constructed through policy." As the government builds a well-being environment, global academic interest in Singapore as a model for aging societies is growing.

Buettner defined Singapore as "unlike other Blue Zones, it was not an isolated region where traditional culture evolved longevity lifestyles over centuries, but rather a bustling commercial and cultural hub where the government took the initiative to create health and well-being environments."

The Secret of the 'Blue Zone' Is "Walk, Don’t Ride"... Investment in Walking, Bicycles, and Public Transport

Buettner and CNBC highlighted the following policy-based secrets behind Singapore's success. First, "Walk, don’t ride." Buettner explained, "Singapore imposes taxes on cars, gasoline, and road usage, while heavily investing in walking, bicycling, and public transportation," adding, "This is no coincidence. It is a very well-thought-out plan."

Singapore is recognized as one of the world's major cities with a particularly well-organized pedestrian-first traffic signal system. Conversely, to purchase a car, one must first obtain a Certificate of Entitlement (COE), which can sometimes cost much more than the car itself. These policies effectively encourage many people to walk. Additionally, since 2015, Singapore has conducted the 'National Steps Challenge' campaign, which rewards points based on seasonal step counts to promote walking.

The second secret is encouraging people to live close to their loved ones, such as family. Singapore’s Proximity Housing Grant system, which provides incentives for living with or near parents and children, is a representative example. Buettner analyzed, "Elderly people continue to communicate with their families and often receive better care from them, which helps extend their life expectancy."

The third secret lies in a sense of belonging through community. CNBC introduced research showing that belonging to faith-based communities increases life expectancy. According to Buettner, interviews with 263 centenarians revealed that all but five belonged to faith-based communities such as churches, cathedrals, or temples. Buettner explained, "Research shows that attending faith-based worship four times a month can increase life expectancy by 4 to 14 years." In Singapore, over 80% of adults are reported to have a religion.

Alongside this, Singapore has improved access to healthy foods and encouraged maintaining healthy dietary and lifestyle habits. The government supports incentives to help citizens choose healthy foods over junk food and labels products with restricted sugar and sodium content. Singapore was also one of the first countries to impose taxes on tobacco products.

Furthermore, Singapore has increased healthcare accessibility through universal medical services. CNBC noted that this implies the availability of high-quality services. According to information Buettner shared on the Blue Zones website, Singapore spends relatively less on healthcare as a percentage of GDP compared to countries like the United States, yet provides medical services to over 92% of its population.

Additionally, strict laws related to firearms and drugs are cited as another policy-driven secret. Unlike the United States, where over 50,000 and 100,000 people die annually from gun incidents and drug overdoses respectively, Singapore enforces very strict regulations on firearms and drugs.