Women of Spain Live the Longest

Spanish women are the longest living group of people in Europe, according to figures from the EU's Eurostat department.

They live to an average age of 83.7, three years longer than women in the UK, whose average is 80.7 years. Men in Britain live to 76.2 years on average.

A recent report by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer suggested that Spain's excellent health care system and a diet with a lot of olive oil and red wine were together responsible for the longevity of its people.

Nature magazine reported research from Harvard University last year which suggested that two elements found in red wine and olive oil, known as resveratrol and flavones, may be the key to a healthier, longer life.

Spanish men still come second to Swedish men in longevity, living 77.2 years compared with 77.9.

Spain's improving life-spans, high immigration and numbers of children born to immigrants helped give it the fastest rate of population growth in Europe, barring Cyprus, last year.