People currently turning 65 are likely to live for a further 20 years, an increase of five years on 1956 when the state pension was introduced, national statistics office CBS said on Monday.

Women are likely to reach the age of 86 while men will live to just over 83, the statistics office said.

While women tend to live longer than men, the difference has been eroded since 1980. This is largely due to smoking. Women took up the habit later than men and that is now being translated into more deaths from lung cancer, the CBS said.

More men have also stopped smoking or never began, and that too is having an impact on life expectancy rates, the CBS said.

Nevertheless, six in every 100 women who are currently 65 will reach the age of 100, as will three in 100 men, the CBS said.

The state pension (AOW) age is being raised in stages to 67 because of improved life expectancy rates.