Global life expectancy at birth has risen significantly since the mid-1900s, from roughly 46 years in 1950 to 73.2 years in 2023. 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.

The significant increase in life expectancy over the past 75 years has largely been driven by reductions in infant and child mortality, and has seen life expectancy from birth increase by 27 years between 1950 and 2024. However, this is not the only driver of increased life expectancy, as humanity has also become much better at prolonging life for adults. In 1950, 65-year-olds could expect to live for another 11 years on average, while this has risen to almost 18 years in 2025. The notable dips in life expectancy are due to China's Great Leap Forward around 1960, famine and conflict in Asia (especially Bangladesh) around 1970, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the early 2020s.

From the mid-19th century until today, life expectancy at birth in the United States has roughly doubled, from **** years in 1850 to **** years in 2025. It is estimated that life expectancy in the U.S. began its upward trajectory in the 1880s, largely driven by the decline in infant and child mortality through factors such as vaccination programs, antibiotics, and other healthcare advancements. Improved food security and access to clean water, as well as general increases in living standards (such as better housing, education, and increased safety) also contributed to a rise in life expectancy across all age brackets. There were notable dips in life expectancy; with an ***** year drop during the American Civil War in the 1860s, a ***** year drop during the Spanish Flu empidemic in 1918, and a *** year drop during the Covid-19 pandemic. There were also notable plateaus (and minor decreases) not due to major historical events, such as that of the *****, which has been attributed to a combination of factors such as unhealthy lifestyles, poor access to healthcare, poverty, and increased suicide rates, among others. However, despite the rate of progress slowing since the *****, most decades do see a general increase in the long term, and current UN projections predict that life expectancy at birth in the U.S. will increase by another nine years before the end of the century.

In 2024, life expectancy at birth in Europe was 79 years, compared with the low of 62.8 in 1950 and 1951. During this time period, life expectancy increased fastest between the 1950s and mid 1960s, with the rate of improvement slowing since then.

This dataset provides historical life expectancy at birth for countries worldwide. Life expectancy at birth represents the average number of years a newborn is expected to live, assuming current mortality rates remain constant throughout their lifetime. The data covers both sexes combined and spans multiple decades, allowing for analysis of health trends, economic development, and improvements in living conditions over time.

This dataset is valuable for demographic studies, public health research, and socio-economic analysis. Researchers can explore global and regional disparities in life expectancy and how it correlates with factors like healthcare, income, and social development.

This table contains 2394 series, with data for years 1991 - 1991 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (1 items: Canada ...), Population group (19 items: Entire cohort; Income adequacy quintile 1 (lowest);Income adequacy quintile 2;Income adequacy quintile 3 ...), Age (14 items: At 25 years; At 30 years; At 40 years; At 35 years ...), Sex (3 items: Both sexes; Females; Males ...), Characteristics (3 items: Life expectancy; High 95% confidence interval; life expectancy; Low 95% confidence interval; life expectancy ...).

This is a list of countries showing past life expectancy, ranging from 1950 to 2015 in five-year periods, as estimated by the 2017 revision of the World Population Prospects database by the United Nations Population Division. Life expectancy equals the average number of years a person born in a given country is expected to live if mortality rates at each age were to remain steady in the future. The life expectancy is shown as the average of males and females.

COLUMN DESCRIPTION

• 'countries': name of the countries and subnational area The rest of the columns are five year ranges from 1950 to 2015.

FILE DESCRIPTION

File name: past_life _exp.csv

Context

Life expectancy at birth is defined as the average number of years that a newborn could expect to live if he or she were to pass through life subject to the age-specific mortality rates of a given period. The years are from 1950 to 2018.

Content

For regional- and global-level data pre-1950, data from a study by Riley was used, which draws from over 700 sources to estimate life expectancy at birth from 1800 to 2001.

Riley estimated life expectancy before 1800, which he calls "the pre-health transition period". "Health transitions began in different countries in different periods, as early as the 1770s in Denmark and as late as the 1970s in some countries of sub-Saharan Africa". As such, for the sake of consistency, we have assigned the period before the health transition to the year 1770. "The life expectancy values employed are averages of estimates for the period before the beginning of the transitions for countries within that region. ... This period has presumably the weakest basis, the largest margin of error, and the simplest method of deriving an estimate."

For country-level data pre-1950, Clio Infra's dataset was used, compiled by Zijdeman and Ribeira da Silva (2015).

For country-, regional- and global-level data post-1950, data published by the United Nations Population Division was used, since they are updated every year. This is possible because Riley writes that "for 1950-2001, I have drawn life expectancy estimates chiefly from various sources provided by the United Nations, the World Bank’s World Development Indicators, and the Human Mortality Database".

For the Americas from 1950-2015, the population-weighted average of Northern America and Latin America and the Caribbean was taken, using UN Population Division estimates of population size.

Acknowledgements

Life expectancy:

Data publisher's source: https://www.lifetable.de/RileyBib.pdf Data published by: James C. Riley (2005) – Estimates of Regional and Global Life Expectancy, 1800–2001. Issue Population and Development Review. Population and Development Review. Volume 31, Issue 3, pages 537–543, September 2005., Zijdeman, Richard; Ribeira da Silva, Filipa, 2015, "Life Expectancy at Birth (Total)", http://hdl.handle.net/10622/LKYT53, IISH Dataverse, V1, and UN Population Division (2019) Link: https://datasets.socialhistory.org/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=hdl:10622/LKYT53, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1728-4457.2005.00083.x/epdf, https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/ Dataset: https://ourworldindata.org/life-expectancy

GDP per capita:

Data publisher's source: The Maddison Project Database is based on the work of many researchers that have produced estimates of economic growth for individual countries. Data published by: Bolt, Jutta and Jan Luiten van Zanden (2020), “Maddison style estimates of the evolution of the world economy. A new 2020 update”. Link: https://www.rug.nl/ggdc/historicaldevelopment/maddison/releases/maddison-project-database-2020 Dataset: https://ourworldindata.org/life-expectancy

Inspiration

The life expectancy vs GDP per capita analysis.

Over the past 75 years, women have generally had a higher life expectancy than men by around 4-6 years. Reasons for this difference include higher susceptibility to childhood diseases among males; higher rates of accidental deaths, conflict-related deaths, and suicide among adult men; and higher prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle habits and chronic illnesses, as well as higher susceptibility to chronic diseases among men. Therefore, men not only have lower life expectancy than women overall, but also throughout each stage of life. Throughout the given period, there were notable dips in life expectancy for both sexes, including a roughly four year drop in 1960 due to China's so-called Great Leap Forward, and a 1.8 year drop due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. Across the world, differences in life expectancy can vary between the sexes by large margins. In countries such as the Nordics, for example, the difference is low due to high-quality healthcare systems and access, as well as high quality diets and lifestyles. In Eastern Europe, however, the difference is over 10 years in Russia and Ukraine due to the war, although the differences were already very pronounced in this region before 2022, in large part driven by unhealthier lifestyles among men.

Aftar a drop of 0.6 years between 2019 and 2022, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Germany's life expectancy at birth returned to it's pre-pandemic level in 2023, and is projected to reach almost 82 years in 2025. In 2025, it is estimated that women in Germany have a life exectancy 4.6 years higher than men, which is a slightly narrower margin than the difference of almost seven years throughout the 1990s.

‘ indicates p ~ 0.10,* indicates p < 0.05. S.E. (standard error) is in parentheses.The rate of improvement in 1950–54 is in units of months per year or deaths per 1000 per year. The regional trends in improvement are in units of months per year2 or deaths per 1000 per year2.Mean rate of improvement in 1950–54 and the mean regional trends in improvements in life expectancy, child survival, adult and senior survival from 1950–2010.

Life expectancy at birth and at age 65, by sex, on a three-year average basis.

A global phenomenon, known as the demographic transition, has seen life expectancy from birth increase rapidly over the past two centuries. In pre-industrial societies, the average life expectancy was around 24 years, and it is believed that this was the case throughout most of history, and in all regions. The demographic transition then began in the industrial societies of Europe, North America, and the West Pacific around the turn of the 19th century, and life expectancy rose accordingly. Latin America was the next region to follow, before Africa and most Asian populations saw their life expectancy rise throughout the 20th century.

In the observed period, the average life expectancy increased in Poland. The average life expectancy for women in 2024 was **** years. For comparison, in 1950, women lived ** years shorter on average. Statistically, women live longer than men in Poland.

Context

This dataset provides comprehensive global demographic and socioeconomic indicators for each country, compiled for the year 2024. It includes data on population sizes, growth rates, fertility rates, migration, urbanization, and other critical factors that influence global social and economic trends.

Key Features:

Country Name: The name of each country or region included in the dataset.

Population (2024): Estimated total population of each country for the year 2024, measured in millions or billions.

Population Growth Rate: The annual percentage change in population from one year to the next. It highlights whether the population is growing or declining.

Urbanization Percentage: The proportion of the population living in urban areas, indicating trends in urban migration and the shift from rural to urban living.

Fertility Rate: The average number of children born per woman of childbearing age, a key indicator of population reproduction levels.

Median Age: The median age of the population, reflecting the age distribution and helping to assess population aging or youthfulness.

Life Expectancy at Birth: The average number of years a newborn is expected to live, assuming current mortality rates persist.

Infant Mortality Rate: The number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000 live births, a key indicator of healthcare quality and access.

GDP (Gross Domestic Product): The total monetary or market value of all the goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a given time period (usually measured annually in USD).

GDP per Capita: GDP divided by the total population, reflecting the average economic output per person and serving as a measure of the average income or economic standard of living.

Human Development Index (HDI): A composite index that considers life expectancy, education, and income per capita to provide an overall measure of human development.

Applications of the Dataset: Policy and Development Analysis: Governments, international organizations, and think tanks can use this data to craft development policies, allocate resources, and address issues such as urbanization, aging populations, and fertility rates.

Economic Forecasting and Analysis: Economists and financial institutions can leverage this data for macroeconomic analysis, forecasting, and investment decisions, especially using indicators like GDP, GDP per capita, and HDI.

Social and Health Research: Public health organizations can track health indicators like life expectancy, infant mortality rates, and fertility rates to guide public health interventions and strategies.

Education and Demography: Educators and researchers in the fields of demography, sociology, and global studies can use this dataset to analyze population trends, migration patterns, and social changes across the globe.

Sources of Data:

The data is sourced from reputable international organizations including the United Nations, the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other national statistical agencies.

Data Use & Limitations:

Use: This dataset is intended for general research, educational, and analytical purposes. It provides a snapshot of global demographic trends and socioeconomic conditions as of 2024. Limitations: While the data is collected from reliable sources, estimates for certain countries may vary slightly due to differing methods of data collection or reporting across regions. Additionally, as some countries may not have updated data for 2024, projections or estimates have been used where necessary.

World Population Data from the United Nations (UN), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division World Population Prospects 2022

Notes
File (CSV, 6 KB) Location notes.

**Demographic Indicators ** Indicator reference (CSV, 4 KB) 1950-2100, medium (ZIP, 7.77 MB) 2022-2100, other scenarios (ZIP, 34.76 MB) Demographic Indicators:

Total Population, as of 1 January (thousands)
Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)
Male Population, as of 1 July (thousands)
Female Population, as of 1 July (thousands)
Population Density, as of 1 July (persons per square km)
Population Sex Ratio, as of 1 July (males per 100 females)
Median Age, as of 1 July (years)
Natural Change, Births minus Deaths (thousands)
Rate of Natural Change (per 1,000 population)
Population Change (thousands)
Population Growth Rate (percentage)
Population Annual Doubling Time (years)
Births (thousands)
Births by women aged 15 to 19 (thousands)
Crude Birth Rate (births per 1,000 population)
Total Fertility Rate (live births per woman)
Net Reproduction Rate (surviving daughters per woman)
Mean Age Childbearing (years)
Sex Ratio at Birth (males per 100 female births)
Total Deaths (thousands)
Male Deaths (thousands)
Female Deaths (thousands)
Crude Death Rate (deaths per 1,000 population)
Life Expectancy at Birth, both sexes (years)
Male Life Expectancy at Birth (years)
Female Life Expectancy at Birth (years)
Life Expectancy at Age 15, both sexes (years)
Male Life Expectancy at Age 15 (years)
Female Life Expectancy at Age 15 (years)
Life Expectancy at Age 65, both sexes (years)
Male Life Expectancy at Age 65 (years)
Female Life Expectancy at Age 65 (years)
Life Expectancy at Age 80, both sexes (years)
Male Life Expectancy at Age 80 (years)
Female Life Expectancy at Age 80 (years)
Infant Deaths, under age 1 (thousands)
Infant Mortality Rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births)
Live births Surviving to Age 1 (thousands)
Deaths under age 5 (thousands)
Under-five Mortality Rate (deaths under age 5 per 1,000 live births)
Mortality before Age 40, both sexes (deaths under age 40 per 1,000 live births)
Male mortality before Age 40 (deaths under age 40 per 1,000 male live births)
Female mortality before Age 40 (deaths under age 40 per 1,000 female live births)
Mortality before Age 60, both sexes (deaths under age 60 per 1,000 live births)
Male mortality before Age 60 (deaths under age 60 per 1,000 male live births)
Female mortality before Age 60 (deaths under age 60 per 1,000 female live births)
Mortality between Age 15 and 50, both sexes (deaths under age 50 per 1,000 alive at age 15)
Male mortality between Age 15 and 50 (deaths under age 50 per 1,000 males alive at age 15)
Female mortality between Age 15 and 50 (deaths under age 50 per 1,000 females alive at age 15)
Mortality between Age 15 and 60, both sexes (deaths under age 60 per 1,000 alive at age 15)
Male mortality between Age 15 and 60 (deaths under age 60 per 1,000 males alive at age 15)
Female mortality between Age 15 and 60 (deaths under age 60 per 1,000 females alive at age 15)
Net Number of Migrants (thousands)
Net Migration Rate (per 1,000 population)

Fertility
1950-2100, single age (ZIP, 78.01 MB) 1950-2100, 5-year age groups (ZIP, 22.38 MB)

Age-specific Fertility Rate (ASFR)
Percent Age-specific Fertility Rate (PASFR)
Births (thousands)

**Life Tables ** 1950-2021, medium (ZIP, 68.72 MB) 2022-2100, medium (ZIP, 74.62 MB) Abridged life tables up to age 100 by sex and both sexes combined providing a set of values showing the mortality experience of a hypothetical group of infants born at the same time and subject throughout their lifetime to the specific mortality rates of a given year, from 1950 to 2100. Only medium is available.

mx: Central death rate, nmx, for the age interval (x, x+n)
qx: Probability of dying (nqx), for an individual between age x and x+n
px: Probability of surviving, (npx), for an individual of age x to age x+n
lx: Number of survivors, (lx), at age (x) for 100000 births
dx: Number of deaths, (ndx), between ages x and x+n
Lx: Number of person-years lived, (nLx), between ages x and x+n
Sx: Survival ratio (nSx) corresponding to proportion of the life table population in age group (x, x+n) who are alive n year later
Tx: Person-years lived, (Tx), above age x
ex: Expectation of life (ex) at age x, i.e., average number of years lived subsequent to age x by those reaching age x
ax: Average number of years lived (nax) between ages x and x+n by those dying in the interval

Life Tables 1950-2021 (ZIP, 94.76 MB) 2022-2100 (ZIP, 101.66 MB) Single age life tables up to age 10...

Life expectancy in the United Kingdom was below 39 years in the year 1765, and over the course of the next two and a half centuries, it is expected to have increased by more than double, to 81.1 by the year 2020. Although life expectancy has generally increased throughout the UK's history, there were several times where the rate deviated from its previous trajectory. These changes were the result of smallpox epidemics in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, new sanitary and medical advancements throughout time (such as compulsory vaccination), and the First world War and Spanish Flu epidemic in the 1910s.

In 2023, the average life expectancy at birth for men and women in South Korea was estimated to stand at 81.2 years and 87.2 years, respectively. Life expectancy at birth was particular low for men at the start of the 1950s due to the Korean War (1950-1953), and lagged 10 to 15 years behind women for decades. While women still have a longer life expectancy, the gap has been increasingly getting smaller, down to a difference of around six years in the 2020s. By the year 2100, it is estimated that life expectancy at birth for Korean women will have risen to 96 years, while their male counterparts are expected to reach 90.2 years old.

Life expectancy from birth in Africa was just over 37 years in 1950. As a wave of independence movements and decolonization swept the continent between the 1950s and early 1970s, life expectancy rose greatly in Africa; particularly due to improvements and control over medical services, better sanitation and the widespread promotion of vaccinations in the continent resulted in a sharp decrease in child mortality; one of the most significant reasons for Africa’s low life expectancy rates. Life expectancy in the continent would continue to steadily increase for much of the second half of the 20th century; however, life expectancy would slow down in the latter half of the 1980s, as the HIV/AIDS epidemic quickly grew to become one of the leading causes of death in the continent. After hovering around the low-fifties in the 1980s to and 1990s, life expectancy would begin to rise again at the turn of the millennium, and is estimated to be over 64 years in 2023.

In 1880, the average person born in the area of modern-day South Korea could expect to live to just under the age of 26, a figure which would remain below thirty until the 1920s. Life expectancy would fall to its lowest level of just 24 years in 1920, however, as the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic would spread through the country, resulting in an estimated 200,000 deaths across the Korean peninsula. Life expectancy would begin to rise in the 1920s, however, as development programs by the Japanese colonial administration would see economic growth and access to healthcare improve greatly in the region. The 1940s and 1950s would see a slowing, then a reversal to this growth though, as the final years of the Second World War, and later the 1950 Korean War, would see significant destruction and fatalities in the country.

Following the end of the Korean War with the 1953 armistice, life expectancy would begin to climb again in the newly-established South Korea, as the country would begin to rapidly modernize and improve access to healthcare and nutrition, raising standards of living and cutting child mortality rates throughout the country. As a result, life expectancy would rise from just under 47 years in 1950, to over 75 years by the turn of the century. This rise in life expectancy has continued steadily into the 21st century, and as a result, in 2020, it is estimated that the average person born in South Korea will live to just under the age of 83 years, one of the highest life expectancies in the world.