Because it has a direct influence on our capacity to enjoy life and carry out everyday activities, good health is essential for quality of life.
The most important measurement of population wellness is life expectancy – a statistical indicator that estimates the average life span of a person. Over the last few decades, life expectancy has increased globally due mainly to advances in technology and medicine which have had a positive effect on people’s health.
Less developed nations have also made significant progress in this regard which has contributed to a decrease in the differences in life expectancy globally although around 1.3 billion disabled people still suffer from health inequities.
Let’s dive into the topic to discover some interesting insights regarding global health statistics.
Suggested reading: Highest and lowest life expectancy by country
Life expectancy
Life expectancy is a hypothetical metric that shows how many more years a person of a certain age can expect to live. The most commonly used metric of life expectancy is life expectancy at birth (LEB).
The improvements in life expectancy recorded over the last few decades have been attributed to significant drops in child mortality and maternal mortality which has had a positive impact on the statistics.
However, despite this progress, child mortality rates in low-income nations are significantly higher compared to those in nations with advanced economies.
According to the latest data, the average life expectancy for men worldwide is 71 years, and for women it is 76 years.
Even with high birth rates, significant health problems such as HIV/AIDS and malaria remain a problem in developing nations.
Child and maternal mortality rates
These are two key indicators of the general state of a nation’s health. Historically, sharp declines in child mortality have contributed significantly to increases in life expectancy at birth.
In 1990, the lives of approximately 13 million children were lost within the first five years of their existence due to causes that could have been avoided.
Thirty years later, in 2022, the United Nations Children’s Fund estimated that this figure had dropped to 4.9 million, a 60% decrease. However, there are still many challenges ahead, with experts continuing to deal with issues such as infectious diseases, diarrhea and malaria which remain too frequent in poor nations.
Suggested reading: Child mortality rates are on the decline but challenges remain
The maternal mortality rate describes the number of women who die either during giving birth or within the following 42 days. Just like child mortality, this indicator has undergone a significant decrease over time, particularly in high-income nations.
Around 100 years ago this indicator stood at between 500 and 1,000 fatalities per 100,000 live births, while today it stands at 10 fatalities per 100,000 live births. For the most part, this is due to advances in medical knowledge.
Source: OurWorldinData
While maternal mortality rates continue to fall worldwide, there are still some serious issues that must be addressed. For instance, maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa is more than 60 times greater than in the European Union (over 500 fatalities per 100,000 live births). These deaths would be avoided if mothers could benefit from timely and appropriate care.
What are the major health risks today?
People often underestimate the number of deaths attributable to cancer and cardiovascular diseases per year, believing that more people die from violence, substance abuse, suicide, or as a result of conflicts.
However, statistics indicate that cancer and cardiovascular diseases each take more lives than violence, alcohol and drugs use, suicide or wars:
- 9.7 million deaths per year occur due to cancer
- 18 million people die of heart or vascular diseases each year
- 415,180 people are victims of violence and die because of this
- 3 million people die from alcohol and drug use
- 700,000 people commit suicide each year
- 3.8 million people fall victim to war each year
According to a 2023 report by the American Association for Cancer Research, alcohol intake, tobacco use, and excess body weight are linked to 40% of cancer cases in the United States.
In Europe, according to the World Health Organization, tobacco, alcohol, and ultra-processed foods together with fossil fuels are responsible for 2.7 million deaths per year.
Leading causes of death in OECD nations, 2021 (or closest year)
Source: OECD
Increasing obesity and malnutrition
According to the World Health Organization, as of 2022, there were around 390 million people above the age of 18 suffering from malnutrition and around 2.5 billion people were overweight, with nearly one-third, 890 million, suffering from obesity.
As for children aged 5 to 19, around 390 million were deemed to be overweight, with about half suffering from obesity.
Another worrying health statistic refers to the number of deaths among children under the age of five with around 50% of fatalities being attributed to undernutrition. For the most part, these are children from low- and middle-income nations.
Which countries spend the most on health?
Health spending encompasses acquiring health goods, providing health services, initiating public health programs, insurance, and government expenses.
The latest data from 2022 indicates that among OECD nations, the United States of America spends the most on the health of one citizen: US$12,555.
Globally, healthcare spending is increasing with every countries’ average health spending per capita expected to increase until 2050 to reach more than 30% from 2019 levels. Despite the rising expenditures on healthcare worldwide, several countries continue to have relatively low per capita spending levels such as Madagascar (US$17.64), Sudan ($US21.58), and the Democratic Republic of Congo ($22.32).
Top 10 countries in public and private per capita healthcare spending (2022)
Source: Statista
Final word
Global health is making significant strides and benefiting billions of people with improved access to medical treatment and enhanced resilience from health emergencies. However, the fragile state of this development should not be ignored. Improving global health security and advancing equity within and across nations are vital.
