Here in the UK 3-4 years is pretty normal. You can have a shorter, more expensive one but most people stretch it to save money. The phone cost is split into equal monthly interest free payments.WTH! You have 3-4 year contracts in the US? I dont think you can even get a phone on a longer than a 2 year contract in Sweden.
Might be some kind of EU rule idk, but 3-4 years is insanely long tbh!