The Dutch are long-lived. The average life expectancy for men is 74.6 years, and for women 80.3. Not all these years are spent in good health, however. Men spend an average of 14 and women an average of 20 years in less than good health. In these ìunhealthyî years, 60% of health problems are minor. Life expectancy also varies with socioeconomic status. People with a poor education have 12 fewer healthy years than their better educated counterparts. Experts and policymakers are therefore studying ways of improving the socioeconomic status of the poorly educated.
