Cyprus Achieves Lowest Mortality Rate Relative to Healthcare Spending

Cypriots enjoy the highest life expectancy in the world when compared to healthcare spending. This remarkable achievement was highlighted in a recent study conducted by researchers from the Brown University School of Public Health and Harvard University in the U.S., led by Cypriot Professor Irene Papanicolaou.

The study’s results, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine, have gained attention in both American and European media. They emphasize Cyprus’s success, where the country has recorded the lowest mortality rate despite spending relatively little on healthcare.

The research specifically compares "preventable mortality" (deaths under the age of 75 that could have been avoided with timely medical intervention and preventive care) across U.S. states and 40 high-income countries between 2009 and 2021, including Cyprus.

Among high-income countries, Cyprus stands out with one of the lowest rates of preventable deaths, despite maintaining lower healthcare expenditure. While the number of preventable deaths decreased in Cyprus from 2009 to 2019—consistent with trends in other high-income nations—the drop was less pronounced. Like many countries, Cyprus also experienced a rise in preventable mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study’s findings offer valuable insight for Cyprus, highlighting the importance of an efficient healthcare system in preserving and improving public health outcomes. This discovery illustrates that "Cyprus’s healthcare system can provide high-quality care without excessive costs."