This statistic shows the countries and territories with the highest projected life expectancy between 2050 and 2055. Between 2050 and 2055, Hong Kong SAR is projected to have a life expectancy at birth of 89.22 years.

Global life expactancy at birth has risen significantly since the mid-1900s, from roughly 46 years in 1950 to 73.5 years in 2025. Post-COVID-19 projections There was a drop of 1.7 years during the COVID-19 pandemic, between 2019 and 2021, however figures resumed upon their previous trajectory the following year due to the implementation of vaccination campaigns and the lower severity of later strains of the virus. By the end of the century it is believed that global life expectancy from birth will reach 82 years, although growth will slow in the coming decades as many of the more-populous Asian countries reach demographic maturity. However, there is still expected to be a wide gap between various regions at the end of the 2100s, with the Europe and North America expected to have life expectancies around 90 years, whereas Sub-Saharan Africa is predicted to be in the low-70s. The Great Leap Forward While a decrease of one year during the COVID-19 pandemic may appear insignificant, this is the largest decline in life expectancy since the "Great Leap Forward" in China in 1958, which caused global life expectancy to fall by almost four years between by 1960. The "Great Leap Forward" was a series of modernizing reforms, which sought to rapidly transition China's agrarian economy into an industrial economy, but mismanagement led to tens of millions of deaths through famine and disease.

In the world's most populous country, life expectancy has been continuously rising over the last decades, benefitting greatly from China's economic ascendance. In 2022, average life expectancy at birth in China reached about 78.6 years. Life expectancy at birth Life expectancy at birth refers to the average number of years a group of people born in the same year would live, assuming constant mortality rates. San Marino and Monaco had the highest life expectancy at birth, while China had reached a life expectancy above global average. People who were born in San Marino or Monaco in 2023 had a life expectancy of approximately 87 years or 86 years on average respectively. Demographic development in China Whereas average life expectancy at birth has been growing steadily, birth rates in China have been experiencing a slowdown. In 2024, about 6.77 babies had been born per 1,000 women in China, the second lowest point in the recent decade. As a result of low fertility rates and the extended life expectancy in China, the share of elderly people had been rising rapidly. The number of Chinese population aged 60 and older had more than doubled over the past three decades and is projected to reach its peak at 504 million in 2050. People aged 60 and older have been estimated to account for approximately one fourth of China’s total population by 2030, indicating a sharp climb from just around 13 percent in 2010. In order to pinpoint this massive shift in the age pyramid of China, an important indicator for measuring the pressure of aging population on productive population may be consulted. The old-age dependency ratio in China was expected to reach 52.3 percent in 2050.

Pakistan PK: Life Expectancy at Birth data was reported at 76.700 Year in 2050. This records an increase from the previous number of 76.500 Year for 2049. Pakistan PK: Life Expectancy at Birth data is updated yearly, averaging 67.550 Year from Jun 1981 (Median) to 2050, with 70 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 76.700 Year in 2050 and a record low of 52.000 Year in 1981. Pakistan PK: Life Expectancy at Birth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.US Census Bureau: Demographic Projection.

Portugal PT: Life Expectancy at Birth data was reported at 83.400 Year in 2050. This records an increase from the previous number of 83.300 Year for 2049. Portugal PT: Life Expectancy at Birth data is updated yearly, averaging 81.150 Year from Jun 1991 (Median) to 2050, with 60 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 83.400 Year in 2050 and a record low of 73.700 Year in 1991. Portugal PT: Life Expectancy at Birth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Portugal – Table PT.US Census Bureau: Demographic Projection.

Chart and table of Ireland life expectancy from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Chart and table of Myanmar life expectancy from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

New Zealand NZ: Life Expectancy at Birth data was reported at 83.600 Year in 2050. This stayed constant from the previous number of 83.600 Year for 2049. New Zealand NZ: Life Expectancy at Birth data is updated yearly, averaging 81.400 Year from Jun 1986 (Median) to 2050, with 65 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 83.600 Year in 2050 and a record low of 74.400 Year in 1987. New Zealand NZ: Life Expectancy at Birth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.US Census Bureau: Demographic Projection.

Chart and table of Canada life expectancy from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Malaysia Life Expectancy at Birth data was reported at 80.700 Year in 2050. This records an increase from the previous number of 80.500 Year for 2049. Malaysia Life Expectancy at Birth data is updated yearly, averaging 74.800 Year from Jun 1980 (Median) to 2050, with 71 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 80.700 Year in 2050 and a record low of 64.100 Year in 1980. Malaysia Life Expectancy at Birth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.US Census Bureau: Demographic Projection.

Chart and table of Malta life expectancy from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

The life expectancy at birth of men in the Gaza Strip in 2023 was estimated at 73 years, while the life expectancy for women at birth was 76.8 years. A large proportion of Palestinians residing in Gaza were 19 years and younger.

Jordan JO: Life Expectancy at Birth data was reported at 80.500 Year in 2050. This records an increase from the previous number of 80.400 Year for 2049. Jordan JO: Life Expectancy at Birth data is updated yearly, averaging 75.900 Year from Jun 1994 (Median) to 2050, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 80.500 Year in 2050 and a record low of 69.900 Year in 1994. Jordan JO: Life Expectancy at Birth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Jordan – Table JO.US Census Bureau: Demographic Projection.

Globally, about 25 percent of the population is under 15 years of age and 10 percent is over 65 years of age. Africa has the youngest population worldwide. In Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 40 percent of the population is below 15 years, and only three percent are above 65, indicating the low life expectancy in several of the countries. In Europe, on the other hand, a higher share of the population is above 65 years than the population under 15 years. Fertility rates The high share of children and youth in Africa is connected to the high fertility rates on the continent. For instance, South Sudan and Niger have the highest population growth rates globally. However, about 50 percent of the world’s population live in countries with low fertility, where women have less than 2.1 children. Some countries in Europe, like Latvia and Lithuania, have experienced a population decline of one percent, and in the Cook Islands, it is even above two percent. In Europe, the majority of the population was previously working-aged adults with few dependents, but this trend is expected to reverse soon, and it is predicted that by 2050, the older population will outnumber the young in many developed countries. Growing global population As of 2025, there are 8.1 billion people living on the planet, and this is expected to reach more than nine billion before 2040. Moreover, the global population is expected to reach 10 billions around 2060, before slowing and then even falling slightly by 2100. As the population growth rates indicate, a significant share of the population increase will happen in Africa.

The median age of Germans in 2020 was 44.9 years, meaning that half the German population was younger, half older. This number decreased slightly from 1950 to 1970, likely due to the baby boom after World War II, then began increasing. It is expected to slowly increase to 47.4 by 2100. Aging in Germany This shift in the age makeup of Germany is driven by having fewer young people and more old people. While it has increased slightly in the last decade, the German fertility rate remains low. Fewer young people lead to a higher median age. Simultaneously, the life expectancy has increased, having the opposite effect. Regional and global trends The entire European Union, due to higher levels of development, shows an upward shift in its age distribution. While this shift is occurring globally, the level of Germany’s median age is a European phenomenon. In other parts of the world, the proportion of young and old inhabitants is skewed sharply toward the young, pulling the median age lower.

Today, globally, women of childbearing age have an average of approximately 2.2 children over the course of their lifetime. In pre-industrial times, most women could expect to have somewhere between five and ten live births throughout their lifetime; however, the demographic transition then sees fertility rates fall significantly. Looking ahead, it is believed that the global fertility rate will fall below replacement level in the 2050s, which will eventually lead to population decline when life expectancy plateaus. Recent decades Between the 1950s and 1970s, the global fertility rate was roughly five children per woman - this was partly due to the post-WWII baby boom in many countries, on top of already-high rates in less-developed countries. The drop around 1960 can be attributed to China's "Great Leap Forward", where famine and disease in the world's most populous country saw the global fertility rate drop by roughly 0.5 children per woman. Between the 1970s and today, fertility rates fell consistently, although the rate of decline noticeably slowed as the baby boomer generation then began having their own children. Replacement level fertility Replacement level fertility, i.e. the number of children born per woman that a population needs for long-term stability, is approximately 2.1 children per woman. Populations may continue to grow naturally despite below-replacement level fertility, due to reduced mortality and increased life expectancy, however, these will plateau with time and then population decline will occur. It is believed that the global fertility rate will drop below replacement level in the mid-2050s, although improvements in healthcare and living standards will see population growth continue into the 2080s when the global population will then start falling.

Since 1970, the median age of China’s population has continued to increase from around 20 years to around 37.5 years in 2020. According to estimates from the United Nations, the increasing trend will slow down when the median age will reach 50 years in the middle of the 21st century and will remain at around 60 years up to 2100. China’s aging population Although the median age of China’s population is still lower than in many developed countries, for example in Japan, the consequences of a rapidly aging population have already become a concern for the country’s future. As the most populated country in the world, the large labor force in China contributed to the country’s astonishing economic growth in the last decades. Nowadays however, the aging population is going to become a burden for China’s social welfare system and could change China’s economic situation. Reasons for the aging population Like in many other countries, increasing life expectancy is regarded as the main reason for the aging of the population. As healthcare and living standards have improved, life expectancy in China has also increased. In addition, the one-child policy led to a decreasing fertility rate in China, which further increased the share of older people in the society. Even though the one-child policy has been abolished in 2016, many young people are refraining from having children, largely due to the high costs of raising a child, career pressure and the pursuit of freedom.

The median age in India was 27 years old in 2020, meaning half the population was older than that, half younger. This figure was lowest in 1970, at 18.1 years, and was projected to increase to 47.8 years old by 2100. Aging in India India has the second largest population in the world, after China. Because of the significant population growth of the past years, the age distribution remains skewed in favor of the younger age bracket. This tells a story of rapid population growth, but also of a lower life expectancy. Economic effects of a young population Many young people means that the Indian economy must support a large number of students, who demand education from the economy but cannot yet work. Educating the future workforce will be important, because the economy is growing as well and is one of the largest in the world. Failing to do this could lead to high youth unemployment and political consequences. However, a productive and young workforce could provide huge economic returns for India.

In 2024, the average age of the population in Italy is estimated to be 46.6 years. This figure constantly rose over the last decade. In 2010, the mean age was 43.4 years, steadily growing in the following years. Recent studies indicate that the median age is projected to increase in the future as well. By 2050, it could reach 53.4 years. Few births over the last years Italy has the highest share of the elderly population in Europe. In 2023, 24 percent of the Italian inhabitants were aged 65 years and over. One of the main reasons for the population aging is the low number of births recorded in the last years. In fact, Italy counted in 2023 about 6.4 births every 100,000 inhabitants, the lowest figure recorded in the past years. Longer lifespan In addition to a low birth rate, Italy is among the countries with the highest life expectancy worldwide. In 2023, life expectancy at birth for Italian women was 85.2 years, whereas Italian men could expect to live up to 81.1 years. A longer life expectancy combined with fewer births explain why the average age of Italian inhabitants has been rising in the last years.

Netherlands NL: Life Expectancy at Birth data was reported at 83.700 Year in 2050. This records an increase from the previous number of 83.600 Year for 2049. Netherlands NL: Life Expectancy at Birth data is updated yearly, averaging 81.950 Year from Jun 1995 (Median) to 2050, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 83.700 Year in 2050 and a record low of 77.400 Year in 1996. Netherlands NL: Life Expectancy at Birth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Netherlands – Table NL.US Census Bureau: Demographic Projection.