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Indicator is part of data set(s):

HFA-DB

Indicator full name: Disability-adjusted life expectancy, females

Unit: years

Dimensions:

Country/Area (COUNTRY/AREA)
Supranational group of countries (COUNTRY_GRP)
Sex (SEX)
Year of measure (YEAR)

Years data is available: 2000—2015

Last updated: 21 October 2025

(Sub)regional averages available for:

Members of the EU before Feb 2020
Western Balkans

Export to:

HFA-DB

European Health for All database

Indicators: 618

Updated: 21 October 2025

Contact: Data, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health unit (DAD)

The following abbreviations are used in the indicator titles:

• SDR: age-standardized death rates (see HFA-DB user manual/Technical notes, page 13, for details)

• FTE: full-time equivalent

• PP: physical persons

• PPP$: purchasing power parities expressed in US $, an internationally comparable scale reflecting the relative domestic purchasing powers of currencies.

Indicator notes

WHO Global Health Estimates provide a comprehensive and comparable set of DALY estimates from year 2000 onwards. The sum of these DALYs across the population, or the burden of disease, can be thought of as a measurement of the gap between current health status and an ideal health situation where the entire population lives to an advanced age, free of disease and disability.

DALYs for a disease or health condition are calculated as the sum of the Years of Life Lost (YLL) due to premature mortality in the population and the Years Lost due to Disability (YLD) for people living with the health condition or its consequences.

Because these estimates draw on new data and on the results of the GBD 2015 study, and there have been substantial revisions to methods for many causes, these estimates for the years 2000-2015 are not directly comparable with previous WHO estimates of DALYs.

For more detailed information on the methods used to calculate disability-adjusted life expectancy, see http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/GlobalDALYmethods_2000_2015.pdf?ua=1

Country/Area notes

No information

General notes

What is Disability-Adjusted Life Expectancy for Females?

Disability-Adjusted Life Expectancy (DALE), also known as Healthy Life Expectancy, is a health metric that combines the mortality and morbidity data to estimate the average number of years a female is expected to live in a state of good health. This indicator is crucial for understanding the overall health and quality of life of women across different regions and countries. It reflects the current health status and provides insights into the health challenges that females face, which can vary significantly from those of males due to biological, social, and environmental factors.

The Importance of Disability-Adjusted Life Expectancy for Females

Understanding the Disability-Adjusted Life Expectancy for females is vital for policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers. It helps in identifying critical areas where health interventions are needed the most and in evaluating the effectiveness of existing health policies and programs. For instance, a lower DALE in a specific region might indicate inadequate healthcare services or high prevalence of diseases, guiding targeted health initiatives. Moreover, this metric supports gender-specific health strategies and promotes equality in healthcare access and outcomes between genders.

Strengths and Limitations of Disability-Adjusted Life Expectancy for Females

While Disability-Adjusted Life Expectancy is a valuable tool for assessing and comparing the health of female populations, it comes with its own set of strengths and limitations.

Strengths

One of the primary strengths of DALE is its ability to provide a more comprehensive understanding of health outcomes by not only considering longevity but also the quality of life during those years. This dual focus helps in recognizing and prioritizing health issues that might not be fatal but can severely impact the quality of life. Additionally, DALE allows for international comparisons and tracking progress over time, offering insights into the effectiveness of health policies and interventions globally.

Limitations

However, the calculation of DALE also faces several challenges. The accuracy of this measure heavily depends on the quality and availability of data on mortality and morbidity, which can vary significantly between countries and regions. In some cases, data on disability prevalence and severity might be incomplete or outdated, leading to potential underestimations or overestimations of healthy life years. Furthermore, DALE does not account for the distribution of health states within a population, potentially masking health disparities among different groups of females.

Moreover, cultural differences in the perception and reporting of disabilities can affect the comparability of DALE across different cultural contexts. These variations can influence how disabilities are diagnosed, recorded, and reported, further complicating the use of DALE as a universal indicator of female health.

These sections collectively provide a detailed overview of Disability-Adjusted Life Expectancy for females, highlighting its calculation method, importance, strengths, and limitations, thereby offering a comprehensive resource for understanding this crucial health metric.