Never mind the Seven Wonders of the World, we’re far more intrigued by the 'Blue Zones'. These are a handful of places where people are living to 100 and beyond, free from many of the illnesses typically associated with old age.
Click or scroll to explore these extraordinary places and perhaps uncover the secrets to a longer life...
*Prices correct as of November 2024
The term 'Blue Zones' gained popular attention through author and National Geographic fellow Dan Buettner. Along with a team of scientists, including Gianni Pes and Michel Poulain, who originally coined the phrase, Buettner set out to identify key longevity hotspots around the world.
Their mission was to uncover the secrets behind the long lives of these communities' inhabitants. In this photo, Buettner is seen with Juan Carillo, an exceptionally youthful 86-year-old from Nicoya, Costa Rica.
His research, published in his Blue Zones book series, inspired the Netflix documentary Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones. It has caused a storm in the longevity industry, which, according to the Allied Market Research group, will be worth over £44 billion ($34bn) by 2030.
Don’t get too excited, there’s no singular formula to unlock the mystery of human immortality.
However, Buettner and his team discovered that despite their differences, these communities share nine specific lifestyle habits. These habits, dubbed Power 9®, focus on diet, physical activity, a sense of community and a positive outlook on life. Together, they proved essential for longevity and wellbeing.
The chart provides a detailed look at these shared habits. But first, let’s explore the five primary Blue Zones and uncover their blueprint for living a longer, healthier life.
We’re heading to Sardinia, Italy; the islands of Okinawa, Japan; Loma Linda, California; the Greek island of Ikaria; Nicoya in Costa Rica and Singapore.
At first glance, these six regions might seem to have little in common, yet their residents appear to have unlocked the secret to longer, happier lives.
Typically associated with crystal-clear waters and picturesque villages, Sardinia was the first Blue Zone ever identified. A research project revealed an extraordinarily high number of centenarians in the mountainous Barbagia area of the Italian island in 2004.
Italian scientist Dr Gianni Pes had marked the communities on a map with a blue dot.
"This area of Sardinia had such a profusion of blue checkmarks that it showed up like a blue blob. That’s how it came to be called the Blue Zone, and then I expanded that idea to include other places,” Dan Buettner told NBC News.
In Sardinia, the overall life expectancy is approximately 83 years, just over 85 for women and slightly under 80 for men, according to the data platform Statista. However, the communities in the highlands of inner Sardinia are believed to live significantly longer.
Their relative isolation has preserved the genetic makeup of the local population, which might explain why this region has nearly ten times as many centenarians per capita as the United States.
Genetics alone, however, isn’t the full story. According to Dr Pes, good genes account for only about 20% of the variation in lifespan...
The hilly landscape of the Barbagia region means residents have a daily workout the minute they step outside their front door. Plus the proximity of their homes ensures loneliness is never a problem.
However, many of the villages in the region have been abandoned in recent times. Families moved to the cities to find work and homes were being sold off for as little as €1 in a scheme to rejuvenate the area and refurbish houses in poor condition.
Today it might set you back a little more to buy your retirement home in the hills, with an average four-bedroom renovated house costing around €100,000 ($106/£83k). As of early 2024 you could still rent a house for a month in Ollolai for €1, say property platform Idealista.
Sardinia’s strong family values make sure every member of the family is cared for and included. Grandparents provide childcare and motivation to perpetuate age-old traditions that have safeguarded their families for generations.
You won’t find many nursing homes on the island, because it would shame a family to put their aging parents in a retirement home. Instead, there are often two or three generations of a family living in the same household. The older members cook and help out with daily chores, which in turn keeps them both physically and mentally healthier.
What's really remarkable about this region of Sardinia is that there are as many male centenarians as there are women, which is highly unusual. “For every one male centenarian in the US, there are five women centenarians; in Sardinia, it’s 1:1,” Buettner told NBC News.
Men in the area were traditionally shepherds, constantly walking up and down the hills in search of their flock. This provides not only essential cardiovascular benefits, but protection against stress too.
Men in this zone tend to meet up every afternoon to chat and laugh with their friends over a glass of the local Cannonau wine, which has two or three times the level of artery-scrubbing flavonoids as other wines. That brings a whole new meaning to the Western expression 'happy hour.'
Who wouldn't want to live forever if home was an earthly paradise like this one?
Comprising 160 pristine islands in the East China Sea between Taiwan and the Japanese mainland, Okinawa has produced the longest lived population in history and was once known as the "land of the immortals" as reported in American news outlet ofshoot CNNHealth.
Okinawans experience significantly lower rates of cancer, heart disease and dementia compared to Americans. Their women hold the record for the longest lifespan on the planet, with an average life expectancy of 87.4 years, nearly a decade longer than the average American woman.
So, what’s their secret? There’s no magic ingredient. Instead, a variety of factors contribute to their longevity. Among them diet, exercise and a sense of community.
These ladies: Mitsuko Matayoshi, 75, Tomi Ito, 82 and Mitsu Iha, 84 are part of a social community called a 'moai', a friendship group lasting well into old age, which provides emotional and financial support in times of need.
Homes in Okinawa are designed to foster a strong sense of belonging. This traditional red-brick-roof house on Taketomi Island exemplifies harmony with nature, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor spaces.
Instead of doors, the gate and main building, known as Ufuya, a traditional Okinawan structure, feature an exterior corridor that offers an inviting, open design. This layout seems to warmly welcome friends and neighbours.
If the idea of retiring there appeals to you, a smaller but similar traditional home is currently for sale in Nago City, located in the northern part of the main island, for $111,000 (£87k).
Gardens are key to life in Okinawa. Most centenarians tend to one, which provides a daily source of exercise as well as constant supply of fresh vegetables.
Older Okinawans have eaten a plant-based diet most of their lives. Their meals of stir-fry vegetables, sweet potatoes and tofu are low calorie and high in antioxidants, which protect the body from inflammation and disease.
Residents here consume just a third of Japan’s average sugar intake and eat their meals on small plates, say the BBC. But perhaps most importantly, they adhere to the ancient wisdom of “Hara hachi bu,” which advises eating until you are only 80% full.
Okinawan women in particular are nearly always active, whether they are tending their garden or going for a walk.
They rarely sit down and their homes have little furniture. People sit and relax on tatami mats and the constant effort of getting up from a seated position on the floor strengthens the lower body, reducing the risk of falls in later life.
According to Okinawans, the ultimate secret to joy and good health is ikigai, a concept that roughly translates to 'mission,' 'purpose,' or 'reason for getting out of bed each day.' As 101-year-old Umeto puts it, “If we lose it, we die.” And she would know.
Looking at this view every morning might be enough inspiration for you to want to live forever. And inhabitants on the Greek island of Ikaria seem to be doing a pretty good job, with one in three making it to their 90s.
Located about 30 miles off the western coast of Turkey in the Aegean Sea, Ikaria’s isolation, accentuated by its lack of a natural port, has shaped its history.
This remoteness has forced the Ikarians to be self-reliant, resulting in one of the healthiest and most resilient populations in the world.
According to the World Health Rankings, the average life expectancy for women in Greece is 83.6 and men 78.6. As mentioned, a third of the population make it into their nineties on the island of Ikaria.
"People on Ikaria are two-and-a-half times more likely to get to 90 as Americans. Ikarian men, in particular, are nearly four times as likely as their American counterparts to reach 90," Dan Buettner told magazine Reader's Digest magazine.
"Ikarians were also living about eight to ten years longer before succumbing to cancers and cardiovascular disease and they suffered less depression and about a quarter the rate of dementia," he said.
The distinctive white-washed exterior of a typical house on the island of Ikaria glints in the sunlight. But Ikarians were not always so keen to draw attention to themselves. The island is scattered with stone ‘anti-piracy’ houses, homes built under boulders so they couldn’t be spotted by the Persian, Roman and Turkish invading forces who arrived on these shores over the centuries.
During the second world war, the island was occupied by German and Italian forces. It is estimated that 20% of the population died through starvation during this time as reported by British newspaper, The Guardian.
As a result, Ikarians have a strong sense of solidarity, making the island one of the friendliest places to live in the world. Property is reasonably priced too. A two-bedroom home on the island will set you back about €140,000 ($148k/£116k).
Before 1980, Ikaria was self-sufficient, importing hardly anything and even milling its own wheat to make flour. Islanders made use of around 80 different kinds of wild greens and herbs in their diet, Buettner told Reader's Digest. Some have ten times the antioxidant levels of red wine, which are proven to reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure. The local diet also features a lot of beans and little meat or refined sugar.
Ikaria is famous for its unheated and unpasteurised raw honey, which is said to contain anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
As devout Greek Orthodox christians, islanders are called upon to fast regular periods over the year, which cuts nearly a third of calories from the diet and is the only proven way to slow the aging process in mammals as reported by National Institutes of Health website.
Like most of the Blue Zones, Ikarians maintain close family ties. They tend to commit to a life partner and invest in their children, who in turn look after their parents when they get older. This and an unexpected factor seems to contribute to happier lives:
According to bluezones.com, 80% of Ikarian males between 65 and 100 still enjoy active sex lives. Other research suggests that men who experience frequent orgasms have half the coronary heart disease mortality risk as those that don't.
“You’ll see people in their eighties and nineties climbing fruit trees, joking about sex and dancing at panigyria, the regular village parties,” local wine maker Eftychia Afianes told National Geographic Magazine.
Joining Ikaria with a high instance of centenarians is the Nicoya peninsula in Costa Rica, a roughly 80-mile-long finger of land south of the Nicaraguan border on the Pacific Coast.
The natural paradise is a favourite with celebrities like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and model Gisele Bundchen. But Nicoyans, who trace their roots to the indigenous Chorotega people, got there first and appear to have found the formula to living a long and happy life. Let's explore how...
Despite being one of the lowest-income regions in Costa Rica, Nicoya boasts an average life expectancy of 85 years, significantly higher than the national average of just over 77 years, according to Business Insider.
For comparison, life expectancy in the United States is 76.1 years. Nicoya also has approximately three-and-a-half times the global average of centenarians, reports the BBC.
A largely plant-based diet is a common feature of all Blue Zones, but Dan Buettner told Women's Health Magazine that the Nicoyan diet, centred on maize, beans, and squash, is “the best combination for longevity the world has ever known.”
Although the coast is not far away, most Nicoyans live inland in the land of the 'sabanero' or cowboy country, where most people get around on horseback, motorcycle or by foot.
There are many luxury dwellings in this area of Costa Rica due to to its stunning scenery and pristine beaches, but a typical three-bedroom house with 1,600 square feet (150sqm) of living space in the authentic Guanacaste area costs around $163,000 (£129k).
Houses are typically built with local woods like royal guayacan, pochote and cedar.
Centenarians in Nicoya don’t go out of their way to factor exercise into their daily routine. Instead, they appear to enjoy physical work their entire lives and find joy in everyday chores, like Dora Bustos, 102, seen here with her laundry.
Like the concept of 'ikigai' in Okinawa, Nicoyans have what they call their 'plan de vida' or 'life plan', which motivates them to keep active.
"People who have a strong sense of purpose live for seven or eight years longer" Buettner told Women’s Health Magazine.
Nicoyans know how to take it easy too. Even people in the Blue Zones experience stress, which can lead to chronic inflammation, associated with every major age-related disease. But like Ikarians and Sardinians, people in Nicoya work hard in the morning, but then take a nap, like 100-year-old Ramiro Guadamuz here. They also spend time with their loved-ones, which in itself keeps the stress levels down.
Costa Rica has a progressive health system, which is free for citizens in financial need, with small clinics across the country which concentrate on preventing illness before it becomes a problem. Maybe other countries could learn a thing or two?
The only Blue Zone in the United States is home to Seventh-day Adventists living in this sunny part of California, located roughly halfway between Palm Springs and Los Angeles. Remarkably, they live 10 years longer than their North American counterparts according to bluezones.com.
The Adventist Church, a more conservative offshoot of the Methodist Church, arrived in Loma Linda in the early 20th century, establishing both a church and a hospital. The church thrived, as did its members, who consider health to be a core aspect of their faith.
Considering it is not an isolated rural community, it’s surprising that Loma Linda appears to have the highest average life expectancy among the Blue Zones, and possibly in the world.
Residents of Loma Linda are 10 times more likely to reach 100 than the average American. Men in this community live to an average age of 89, while women live to 91, both surpassing the national average by a decade.
Today, Loma Linda is home to a thriving population of around 9,000 Seventh-day Adventists, who prioritise treating their bodies as temples. They avoid smoking, drinking alcohol and eating meat, while maintaining an active lifestyle. Pictured is 84-year-old Loida Medina, a lively resident who plays up to three hours of pickleball a day.
With a population of just 250,000, Loma Linda has a small-town feeling. Everyone knows each other and you’ll often see groups of people out walking, jogging, biking or gathering at church for communal meals.
Despite the fact that property is, on average, $250,000 (£200k) cheaper than the rest of California, according to Business Insider, few appear on the market. There is an average of just a dozen for sale every month.
If you’re quick, you may be able to snap up this three-bedroom family home with a pool near the world-renowned Loma Linda University and Hospital, which is on sale with RE/MAX for just under $800,000 (£630k).
Here, it’s the lifestyle rather than the buildings themselves that seems to influence longevity.
Of the 263 centenarians interviewed by the Blue Zones research team, all but five were part of a faith-based community. Research suggests that attending faith-based services four times a month could add 4–14 years to life expectancy.
Observing the 24-hour Sabbath also appears to play a significant role. This practice offers a chance to step away from the daily routine, focus on personal values, spend time with family and connect with friends. It helps maintain a sense of balance and reinforces what matters most in life.
Like many faiths, the Seventh-day Adventist Church encourages and provides opportunities for its members to volunteer.
“People who volunteer have better memories, and better social connections. They even report higher levels of happiness,” Buettner says in the Live to 100 Netflix documentary.
Centenarian Marge Jetton, who lost her husband shortly before what would have been their 77th anniversary, stays active, maintains a sense of purpose and combats depression by focusing on helping others.
“Of course, I feel lonely every once in a while,” she told magazine National Geographic. “But for me, that has always been a sign to get up and help somebody.”
As well as the five Blue Zones first explored that natually developed over time, a sixth 'manufactured' Blue Zone was announced in 2023. In Singapore, people can now expect to live to over 86.
“In my lifetime they’ve seen life expectancy go up by almost 25 years,” Dan Buettner told ABC News.
The huge leap has largely been driven by forward-thinking government policy, which taxes smoking, junk food and driving your car, subsidising healthy food and public transport. It also encourages regular exercise by providing extensive public parks, fitness corners and gym classes, reports BBC Travel.
Singapore has seen one of the most remarkable increases in life expectancy worldwide. In 1960, the average newborn could expect to live only 65 years. Just one lifetime later, that figure has grown by nearly 20 years. In 2019, Singapore ranked first globally for life expectancy at birth, with an average of 84.9 years, six years more than in the United States.
Singapore leads the world in healthy life expectancy, boasts the lowest rate of cardiovascular mortality and is home to the best healthcare system globally. The number of centenarians on the island more than doubled in the past decade, rising from 700 to 1,500. Similarly, the population of men and women in their eighties and nineties also surged.
Clearly, Singapore has been doing something right for its ageing population, charting its own unique path to longevity.
In Singapore, more than 80% of residents live in high-rise public housing known as HDB (Housing Development Board) flats. These apartment complexes are carefully designed to foster social interaction and create a sense of community despite the city’s urban density.
HDB estates typically consist of clusters of identical apartment blocks surrounded by shared spaces such as playgrounds, fitness corners and community gardens, where residents from diverse backgrounds can connect.
And much like our other Blue Zones, family is important in Singapore, so much so that the government get involved with supporting it...
To strengthen family ties, the government offers a Proximity Housing Grant, encouraging couples to purchase resale apartments near their parents or children.
Buyers can receive up to 30,000 Singapore dollars (approximately $22k/£17.4k) in grants if they choose to live together or nearby, promoting multigenerational living and support within families as reported by Business Insider.
Despite its city skyline, “Government initiatives that seamlessly integrate parks, gardens, and nature reserves into the urban landscape have earned [Singapore] its reputation as a ‘garden city,’” says Charu Kokate, senior partner at Safdie Architects, speaking to the BBC Travel.
One of her favourite spots is the Singapore Botanic Gardens, located in the heart of the city. It holds the distinction of being the only tropical garden recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The park also offers a variety of exercise classes, such as Tai Chi (pictured), which encourage people to stay active and connect with their community.
Since the Blue Zones were first introduced in 2004, the brand, now trademarked, has produced eight books, the Netflix series, product collaborations and a multi-million-dollar programme rolled out across America to encourage other cities to become 'Blue Zones certified', reports The New York Times.
What’s clear is that the centenarians in the Blue Zones are not punishing themselves with gruelling fitness routines or spending a fortune on expensive supplements and gym memberships. They are generally not even thinking about longevity all. Or, as one elderly lady from Ikaria says, “We just forget to die.”
If you want to explore some alternative ways of living, check out these homes in the back of beyond