For those born in 2024, the average life expectancy at birth across Africa was 62 years for men and 66 years for women. The average life expectancy globally was 71 years for men and 76 years for women in mid-2024. Additional information on life expectancy in Africa With the exception of North Africa where life expectancy is around the worldwide average for men and women, life expectancy across all African regions paints a negative picture. Comparison of life expectancy by continent shows the gap in average life expectancy between Africa and other continents. Africa trails Asia, the continent with the second lowest average life expectancy, by 10 years for men and 11 years for women. Life expectancy in Africa is the lowest globally Moreover, countries from across the African regions dominate the list of countries with the lowest life expectancy worldwide. Nigeria and Chad had the lowest life expectancy for those born in 2024 for women and men, respectively. However, there is reason for hope despite the low life expectancy rates in many African countries. The Human Development index rating in Sub-Saharan Africa has increased significantly from nearly 0.44 to 0.57 between 2000 and 2023, demonstrating an improvement in quality of life and, as a result, greater access to vital services that allow people to live longer lives. One such improvement has been successful efforts to reduce the rate of aids infection and research into combating its effects. The number of new HIV infections across sub-Saharan Africa has decreased from over 1.3 million in 2015 to close to 650,000 in 2024. However, the sub-region still accounts for 50 percent of the total new HIV infections.

Over the last two observations, the life expectancy has significantly increased in all gender groups Comparing the two different gender groups for the year 2023, the 'life expectancy of women at birth' leads the ranking with 69.6 years. Contrastingly, 'life expectancy of men at birth' is ranked last, with 62.61 years. Their difference, compared to life expectancy of women at birth, lies at 6.99 years. Life expectancy at birth refers to the number of years that the average newborn can expect to live, providing that mortality patterns at the time of their birth do not change thereafter.Find further similar statistics for other countries or regions like Iran and Angola.