Study Says Living Near The Sea Extends Age

Illustration of living near the sea. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - The beach is one place that can make the heart and mind calmer, happy, and relaxed. Recent research also reveals that living on a beach close to the sea can make life longer.

The study was conducted by researchers from The Ohio State University, published in the journal Environmental Research. In the study analyzed population data from 66 thousand census reports in the United States, then compared it to the distance of residence to the sea or bay.

As a result, people living within a 30-mile radius or about 48 kilometers from the beach have a longer life expectancy, compared to those living in urban areas far from the sea.

"In general, coastal residents are expected to live a year longer than the average life expectancy of 79 years. Meanwhile, those living in urban areas near rivers or lakes tend to die at the age of 78 years," said the main researcher, Jianyong Wu, quoted from Real Simple, on Friday, September 12, 2025.

According to Wu, there are many factors that make life on the coast much healthier. Starting from temperatures that tend to be cooler, the air quality is better, the risk of drought is smaller, to opportunities for recreation in the open.

coastal communities also tend to have more efficient access to transportation and a better economic rate, all of which contribute to the long-lived community.

Meanwhile, things that happen to urban communities are very different. Life in big cities is often colored with high pollution, limited space is safe for physical activity, pollution, and the risk of poverty.

"We found clear differences. In coastal areas people live longer," said Wu.

The researchers also initially thought that all types of blue space (blue rooms identical to water, such as rivers, lakes, and seas) would provide similar benefits. However, research results show something different, where life near the sea is shown to provide a significant advantage over living near ground waters.