Key points from article :
Each year in school or university adds 2% to adult life expectancy, reaching 34% longer life for those with full education compared to none.
Skipping school is as harmful as smoking or heavy drinking, reducing life expectancy by a comparable amount.
This research is the first to directly measure the years of life gained through different education levels.
The increase in lifespan applies to both rich and poor countries, regardless of sex, social class, or demographics.
Education improves health through "soft" benefits like better social connections, informed decision-making, and self-empowerment.
While longer lives are expected for the more educated, it depends on continued access to good housing, affordable healthcare, and stable career opportunities.
The research, published in The Lancet Public Health journal, was conducted by academics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and the University of Washington, supported by the Norwegian government's research fund and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
