Over the past century some countries have seen dramatic increases in life expectancy: averages in certain places rose from about 40 years to roughly 80 years. In 1926 even the most advanced states — Great Britain and the United States — had life expectancies of only 52–54 years, and the global average was depressed by high child mortality. For example, in France in 1930 life expectancy at birth was measured at 57 years, yet people born that year ultimately lived on average 69 years.
Projections estimate that by 2050 there will be about 2 billion people aged 60 or older worldwide — roughly the combined population of South America and Europe. China already has around 300 million people aged 60+. Such demographic shifts are transforming social and economic systems.
Financial planning, products and risks
Longer lifespans force banks and insurers to rethink products and risk models: longer mortgages, different savings strategies and revamped pension offerings are required. UniCredit Bank monitors how Central and Eastern European and Western European countries adapt to these demographic changes and funds studies whose findings it plans to incorporate into its services.
Financial security during extended retirement is crucial because many people cannot accumulate sufficient resources for longer old age. There is a clear link between wealth and life expectancy: in Europe current life expectancy is roughly 80 years for men and 82 years for women, while in the Principality of Monaco averages reach about 89 years — with women exceeding 90 years.
The economics of a good long life: healthy and meaningful years
Nic Palmarini, director of the National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA) in the United Kingdom, argues that longevity research is no longer only about pensions or health‑care capacity. The emphasis is shifting toward ensuring that longer lives are also healthy and meaningful. The focus is not solely what happens at life’s end, but how the extended years are spent and what supports sustained health and engagement.
Technology drivers: four pillars
Palmarini identifies four technological pillars of the transition: artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, quantum technologies and next‑generation control systems and human‑machine interfaces.
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AI and its applications: Some 88 percent of companies already use AI in at least one operational area, and the global AI market is forecast to reach $813.8 billion by 2030, up from $244 billion in 2025. AI supports personalized health guidance, accelerates drug development, and improves financial services such as fraud detection — which is especially important to protect retirees’ savings.
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Robotics: The robotics sector is projected to grow from $74.1 billion in 2024 to $476 billion by 2035. By 2030 about 80 percent of people may interact daily with "smart" robots compared with under 10 percent today. Robots and autonomous technologies will increasingly appear in manufacturing, logistics and healthcare, and they can also help with tasks like driving for people who find it tiring or unsafe as they age.
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Quantum technologies: The quantum computing market is expected to reach $7.3 billion, and governments worldwide have allocated about $44.5 billion in public funding for quantum technology development. UniCredit expects quantum technologies to become more important in financial modelling, risk management, infrastructure planning and cybersecurity. Quantum methods are already used in drug research and can shorten the time needed to bring some medicines to market.
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Next‑generation human‑machine interfaces: Voice control, gesture recognition, wearable technology and brain‑computer interfaces help ensure products and services remain usable at different life stages. The global market for brain‑computer interfaces is forecast to grow from $262 million in 2024 to $506 million in 2029.
Working at older ages
One policy response is summarized as "more free time for workers, more paid work for older people" — a combined social and economic approach. While physically demanding jobs cannot and should not be extended indefinitely, many office and cognitive roles could be sustained longer, supporting continued engagement and mental activity, which have clear health benefits.
Staying mentally active is one of the strongest protective factors for health in older age. For people who have meaningful work or activities after 60, 65 or 70, the risks of rapid disengagement and social isolation are lower. Extending working lives also helps address labour shortages in many northern hemisphere economies.
Social inequalities
Wealth and health correlate strongly. Palmarini highlighted that in London there can be an 11‑year gap in life expectancy between the best and worst districts, citing Tower Hamlets and Kensington as examples. In insurance work, a client’s postal code often predicts life expectancy better than genetic data. Nonetheless, this observation should not be taken as fatalism: individuals can still take many actions to improve their chances of a longer, healthier life through lifestyle changes, preventive care and social supports.
Conclusion
Rising life expectancy is one of the most far‑reaching trends of our time, affecting financial markets, labour supply, urban design and health systems. Responses — from new financial products to technological innovations spanning AI, robotics and quantum computing, and improved human‑machine interfaces — are tools to ensure that longer lives are not only longer but healthier and more fulfilling.
