Greeks are among those who live longest in good health in the European Union, a new study by the EU's statistical service has found.

Both men and women in Greece can expect to live more than 65 years in good health, according to information collected in 2011 that has just been published by Eurostat which said that average life expectancy in Greek men and women was 66 and 67 years respectively.

Healthy life years measure the number of years that a person can expect to live in a healthy condition – defined by the absence of limitations in functioning and disability. At birth, women and men in the EU can expect to live 62 years enjoying good health.

However people who have reached the age of 50 can expect to live another 18 years in a healthy state, data showed. At the age of 65, they can expect another 9 years living in a healthy condition.

Sweden and Malta were found to have the best record, Eurostat said, as both men and women in these countries can expect to live more than 70 years in good health.

The worst record belongs to Slovaks, according to the data, who can at birth expect to live 52 years in good health.