Italy top in Europe for over-80s

(ANSA) - Brussels, September 29 - Italy is top in Europe for the percentage of over-80s in the general population, 6.5% as of January 1, 2015, Eurostat said Thursday ahead of the International Day of Older Persons on October 1. In 2005 Italy was second with 4.9% behind Sweden on 5.4%. Sweden has now dropped to 5.1%. Italy is fourth, behind France, Spain and Luxembourg, for the life expectancy of 80-year-olds with 10 years against a European average of 9.5. Italy has one of the longest life expectancies in the world, as well as one of the lowest birth rates.