Could Gen Z live to 100?

Will Gen Z Be the First Generation to Routinely Live to 100?

It’s no secret that life expectancy has been climbing for decades, but now, a new mindset is emerging—especially among younger generations. A surprising 30% of Gen Z believe they’ll live to 100, a number that edges out older cohorts. Even more telling? They’re not waiting until 70 to call it quits on work. Most expect to retire by age 60, well before what previous generations considered retirement age.

This shift in thinking reveals a fundamental difference in how Gen Z views life, health, and work. While Boomers expect to work until 72 and Gen X until 67, Gen Z is already planning for a longer, healthier second half of life. The optimism about reaching 100 isn’t just wishful thinking—it’s tied to advances in medicine, better awareness of nutrition and mental health, and a cultural shift toward proactive wellness.

Today’s global average life expectancy hovers around 73–75 years, but that number is rising, particularly in developed countries. With breakthroughs in genomics, preventative care, and age-related disease research, living past 100 could move from rare to routine within a lifetime. Millennials aren’t far behind Gen Z in optimism—32% share the same dream of a century-long life—suggesting a broader generational confidence in longer, higher-quality lives.

What’s clear is that Gen Z isn’t just preparing to live longer—they’re building lifestyles around it. From early investments in health to redefining career timelines, their expectations could reshape retirement, healthcare, and the very concept of a life span. Whether they hit 100 remains to be seen, but one thing’s certain: they’re planning on the extra decades.