The survey also found that people do not simply want to live longer, but want to increase the number of healthy years they live. 

Over the past 50 years, the average life expectancy at birth in Hungary has increased from 69.5 to 76.9 years, but Hungarians want to live even longer, to 96 years, according to research by NN Insurance. This is also very high in an international context: it is the fourth highest in a survey of 11 countries. 

The key finding of the research is that people do not simply want to live longer, but want to increase the number of healthy years, but the Hungarian population is falling down the international rankings in health. Only 55% of respondents consider themselves healthy, far below the international average of 62%. This makes Hungarians the least satisfied with our health, along with the Czech Republic and Japan.

In addition to the hoped-for 96 years of longevity, the most important thing for most people would be to live a relaxed, stress-free life. However, this is closely linked to health, where illness and stress have been shown to be two of the main detrimental factors. It is a warning, for example, that a quarter of those surveyed live under constant or frequent stress and 85% consciously seek ways to reduce stress levels. This means that avoiding less stress, including health-related stressors, is a big step towards a happier life.

Research shows a clear positive link between health perceptions and happiness. That's why it's worth doing as much as possible to protect our health, and there are positive signs in the responses, according to the research. About 8 out of 10 people surveyed would give up unhealthy habits in a heartbeat if it meant gaining an extra five years of healthy life, and the same number would be willing to take up some regular healthy activity in exchange for similar prospects.

"If we want a long and happy life, there is room for improvement in health prospects. At the same time, we can see that this is becoming more and more important in the values of Hungarian people. Prevention and more conscious use of health services can play a major role in this. This is why we at NN Insurance have launched a free Health Assistance service for our customers to support them in this," said Bence Holló, president and CEO of NN Insurance.

The research also looks specifically at the typical causes of health stress. Among these, the strongest stress factor among respondents is money (poverty, job loss, debt, medical expenses), followed by insecurity, pressure at work, and fear for one's health.