Indians aspire and act for longevity than others, says BCG's global survey

While only 12% of people globally are proactively planning for longer and healthier lives, India ranks first among all countries in prioritising longevity, with nearly half the population taking at least some action, says a study based on a global survey.

India leads in longevity intervention adoption, especially those related to natural remedies, wearable health trackers and AI-supported solutions. Indians use AI-powered health tools with 25% adoption and are in the Top 3 countries with the highest adoption of wearables and trackers (32%), says the study "The Longevity Paradox: Why We Don’t Plan for Healthy Ageing Before It’s Too Late," released by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), after surveying a sample size of 9,350 respondents across 19 countries about their health habits and ambitions.

Survey respondents prioritise physical health (29%), diet (25%), exercise and sleep (22%). However, focus on staying mentally and creatively stimulated (19%) is less, which makes healthy ageing feel like endless self-improvement tasks, which rarely inspire long-lasting change, observes the study.

There is a growing number of AI-powered personal health agents. In India and Indonesia, one in four already uses AI-powered health tools. AI adoption is also growing in China (20%), Switzerland (14%), and Germany (10%).

In India, 71% of respondents have used at least one tech intervention, as against the 55% global average. Despite the population’s focus on longevity, there is still an opportunity to improve food literacy around unhealthy dietary choices. Up to 25% of respondents identify some of the unhealthier options as healthy, or very healthy, 5-7% higher than the global average. Indian consumers are less constrained by privacy concerns, making them more open to digital-first health engagement. However, affordability and accessibility remain critical barriers for lower-income segments.

"This digital-first mindset positions India at the forefront of reimagining healthy aging, even as challenges remain in making these solutions accessible across income groups. The Longevity Paradox reminds us that longevity is not just about extending years, but about living those years with purpose, vitality, and independence. India’s embrace of technology could make it a global testbed for scaling healthy ageing innovations," said Parul Bajaj, managing director and partner, India Lead – Marketing, Sales & Pricing Practice (MSP), BCG.

Indian youth mirror the global trend of high interest in experimentation with health apps and wellness, but also vulnerable to stress, burnout, and inconsistent healthy practices. Younger generation experiment more with wellness trends and health-tracking technology, but they’re also more likely to eat in front of the TV and doomscrolling on social media. Plus, they’re 2x as likely as old generations to report feeling burnout., observes the report.