Only 6 in 10 S'poreans think they'll live until 80: Prudential

The lack of confidence comes from the high levels of chronic diseases amongst Singaporeans.

Only six in ten Singaporeans believe they will maintain good well-being long enough to live through 80 years old, according to a survey by the life insurer Prudential Singapore.

The report focuses on the potential shifts in aspirations and perceptions of success among Singapore residents due to longer life expectancies and the ongoing challenges to health and overall well-being.

The country ranked third lowest in confidence to live a healthy life, compared to 13 other markets surveyed in Asia.

The alarming levels of chronic health conditions among Singapore people could have been a root cause of the pessimistic perspective. The report stated that 32% have been diagnosed with high blood pressure whilst 37% with high levels of cholesterol.

“However, there is a silver lining as the survey found that Singapore residents are re-evaluating their priorities and placing more importance on physical fitness,” said Prudential.

The respondents were asked what changed in their priorities versus five years ago, and physical fitness was the third most important on the list.

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Stimulus to promote a healthy lifestyle
Singaporeans also indicated that incentives are helpful motivators toward healthy living.

It was recorded that incentives from the government (51%) and from insurance providers (40%) are boosting them to create a lifestyle change.

“Among the 13 countries surveyed, Singapore residents appear to be the most receptive to incentives by the government, employers and others, to take a more proactive approach to improving their health,” said Prudential.

About 65% of the surveyed from Singapore believe policies and support by the government will allow them to conveniently better their physical health. This surpassed the regional average of 55% who believed in the government efforts boosting their motivation.

Another way to conveniently walk the path to a healthier lifestyle, technology has helped Singaporeans track their well-being. More than 75% said they used such mobile applications to keep track, higher than the regional average of 72%.

The report was written by Economist Impact and commissioned by Prudential Singapore.