Japanese women have the highest life expectancy in the world.

Health ministry data showed girls born in Japan in 2012 could expect to live on average to 86.41 years old up from 85.90 years in 2011, when the average was dragged lower after thousands of lives were cut short by the tusnami.

"Death rates rose in 2011 due to the disaster but the life expectancy picked up again with that factor coming off," said a health ministry official.

Japanese people are known around the world for their longevity often attributed to a healthy diet, an active lifestyle and a good medical system.

The health ministry complied international rankings using data from Japan and 48 other countries including Hong Kong.

In 2011, Japanese women were knocked of the top spot of being the longest-lived by Hong Kong. But in 2012, with the tsunami threat removed, Hong Kong ladies were back in second place with an expected life span of 86.3 years followed by Spain, France and Switzerland.

Japanese men's life expectancy also rose in 2012 to a record 79.94 years from 79.44, becoming the fifth longest-lived.

Men who live the longest in the world are Icelanders at 80.8 years.

AFP