Nowadays, people are living longer than they did in the past. A hundred years ago, at the beginning of the 20th century, the average life expectancy of a human being was only 32 years. Today, it has more than doubled, with people living on average 73.4 years. This is good news of course, but what has caused such a dramatic change, and has this happened in every country and region on Earth?
In a nutshell, some of the key drivers are innovations in medicine and public health, as well as better living standards. This has led to a significant decrease in child mortality which is an indicator that impacts the statistics. Based on some projections, average life expectancy will continue to rise until at least the end of this century.
Source: Macrotrends
What is life expectancy?
The term ‘life expectancy’ describes the number of years that, on average, a person is predicted to live. In fact, people born in a certain year will experience age-specific death rates for that particular year during their lifetime.
The measure basically forecasts the death rate for various ages during a certain time period and applies this to the whole lifetime of those born or living at that point in time. It varies greatly by age, sex, race, and geographical area.
Global life expectancy statistics
Data provided by the United Nations shows that the global life expectancy today among males is close to 71 years, while for females the figure is 76 years.
However, life expectancy varies greatly by region, with some of the lowest figures registered in Western Africa and some of the highest in Western Europe.
In just over two decades from the beginning of the 21st century (2000-2024), the average life expectancy around the globe has increased from 66 years to 73 years, with some African nations registering an astonishing rise from 52 to 64 years. This has been mainly brought about by increases in the survival rates of children from 0 to 5 years old and by greater accessibility to anti-retroviral treatments for HIV/AIDS.
In addition, over the last two centuries, the number of births has constantly outpaced the number of deaths, resulting in a large growth in the global population.
Countries with the highest life expectancy
If the world’s population is divided by income categories, high-income nations have the longest average life expectancy of nearly 82 years, while low-income nations have an average age of just 64 years.
Top 20 countries with the highest life expectancy (for people born in 2023, by gender)
Source: Statista
Let’s break down the top three regions from this list.
Monaco
According to statistics, men born in Monaco in 2023 will live on average 84 years, while women can expect to live until the age of 89. Experts identify several reasons for this nation’s exceptionally long lifespans such as the Mediterranean diet, for example, which is high in fish, fruit, and vegetables.
The nation’s excellent public healthcare system is another reason as is the fact that most people in Monaco can afford healthy lifestyles and any other wellness techniques they may need.
Monaco is also a family-friendly and religious nation where most people lead stress-free lives. As it is a small country, people focus very much on the community, and thus the elderly do not feel excluded and continue to be active following retirement.
South Korea
In South Korea, the average lifespan for males is 81 years and for females, 87. In just a few decades the nation has registered the world’s quickest increase in average life expectancy rate, from 52 years in 1960 to 84 years in 2023.
This is a result of the nation’s population having wider access to health and social services, improved food distribution, and better nutrition literacy and awareness.
China, Hong Kong SAR
In this Special Administrative Region of China, it is anticipated that men born in 2023 will live on average for 81 years, while for women this figure is slightly higher at 87 years.
Following the Second World War, the region experienced rapid economic growth which ultimately led to an increase in life expectancy. Today, Hong Kong boasts the lowest newborn mortality rate worldwide, excellent child medical services, and outstanding job and education initiatives.
Countries with the lowest life expectancy
Most nations registering the lowest life expectancy are located on the African continent. Nigeria, Chad, and Lesotho are the three countries with the lowest numbers.
Top 20 countries with the lowest life expectancy (for people born in 2023, by gender)
Source: Statista
Let’s break down the top three nations and the key reasons behind their poor results.
Nigeria
Today, this country is the most populous in Africa and holds sixth place in the world based on this parameter, with 218 million inhabitants. This is primarily due to a high birth rate.
A Nigerian male’s life expectancy today is 54 years, while for females it is 53 years. Such a low result is caused mainly by the prevalence of non-communicable diseases and pneumonia and influenza are among other major problems causing serious health issues. Additionally, the mortality rate among children under the age of five also remains very high.
Chad
The average life expectancy in Chad is now almost identical to the global average registered in the 1960s, with males expected to live on average 51 years, and females until the age of 55. This indicates that little to no progress has been made in this country for decades, particularly in the healthcare system. The number of medical experts in Chad is extremely low. Per 100,000 inhabitants, there are 4 doctors, according to the World Health Organization. Furthermore, the nation’s economy has been seriously damaged by natural disasters and civil war.
Lesotho
People from Lesotho regularly face various natural disasters. Moreover, the country has one of the largest epidemics of HIV/AIDS worldwide. These factors have combined to cause the average life expectancy in Lesotho to be extremely low – 50 years for men and 56 years for women.
Final word
Average life expectancy is steadily increasing, with individuals in developed countries enjoying longer lives compared to those in developing nations. Advances in healthcare are a significant contributing factor to longer lifespans. However, many developing nations face challenges due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure and a shortage of medical professionals.
Despite high birth rates, poorer countries are grappling with serious health issues such as malaria and HIV/AIDS. This situation necessitates intervention from international organizations to address these long-standing problems which are particularly prevalent on the African continent.
