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.

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.

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

Life expectancy at birth, female (years) in Morocco was reported at 77.18 years in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Morocco - Life expectancy at birth, female (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

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

Life expectancy at birth, total (years) in United States was reported at 77.43 years in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Life expectancy at birth, total (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

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

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.

Life expectancy at birth, female (years) in Finland was reported at 83.8 years in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Finland - Life expectancy at birth, female (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

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

In 2023, the average life expectancy of the world was 70 years for men and 75 years for women. The lowest life expectancies were found in Africa, while Oceania and Europe had the highest.

What is life expectancy?

Life expectancy is defined as a statistical measure of how long a person may live, based on demographic factors such as gender, current age, and most importantly the year of their birth. The most commonly used measure of life expectancy is life expectancy at birth or at age zero. The calculation is based on the assumption that mortality rates at each age were to remain constant in the future.

Life expectancy has changed drastically over time, especially during the past 200 years. In the early 20th century, the average life expectancy at birth in the developed world stood at 31 years. It has grown to an average of 70 and 75 years for males and females respectively, and is expected to keep on growing with advances in medical treatment and living standard continuing.

Highest and lowest life expectancy worldwide

Life expectancy still varies greatly between different regions and countries of the world. The biggest impact on life expectancy is the quality of public health, medical care, and diet. As of 2021, the countries with the highest life expectancy were Japan, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and South Korea, all at 84 years. Most of the countries with the lowest life expectancy are mostly African countries. The ranking was led by the Chad, Nigeria, and Lesotho with 53 years.

Over the past 160 years, life expectancy (from birth) in the United States has risen from 39.4 years in 1860, to 78.9 years in 2020. One of the major reasons for the overall increase of life expectancy in the last two centuries is the fact that the infant and child mortality rates have decreased by so much during this time. Medical advancements, fewer wars and improved living standards also mean that people are living longer than they did in previous centuries.

Despite this overall increase, the life expectancy dropped three times since 1860; from 1865 to 1870 during the American Civil War, from 1915 to 1920 during the First World War and following Spanish Flu epidemic, and it has dropped again between 2015 and now. The reason for the most recent drop in life expectancy is not a result of any specific event, but has been attributed to negative societal trends, such as unbalanced diets and sedentary lifestyles, high medical costs, and increasing rates of suicide and drug use.

Callao and Lima were the departments in Peru with the highest life expectancy. Both are tied with 80.3 years of life to every person born between the years of 2020 and 2025. Other departments that come close to 80 years of life expectancy are Ica, Lambayeque and Arequipa.

Life expectancy at birth, female (years) in Hungary was reported at 79.5 years in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Hungary - Life expectancy at birth, female (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

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

In 2022, the average life expectancy of women at birth in South Korea was around 85.6 years, a decrease from about 86.6 years in the previous year. The life expectancy of women in South Korea has steadily increased over the past decades. Rising life expectancy In South Korea, women have a notably higher life expectancy at birth compared to men, with a difference of approximately six years. Over the past few decades, there has been an increase in the overall life expectancy for both genders. Back in 1970, the average life expectancy was around 62 years. However, as of 2022, it has risen to approximately 82.7 years. This places South Korea's overall life expectancy significantly higher in international comparison, ranking second among OECD countries. Aging population and demographic challenges South Korea's population is experiencing significant demographic changes. Life expectancy is increasing due to improved healthcare and living standards, while the fertility rate has dropped to a historically low level. This demographic shift is expected to persist in the coming years. By 2025, South Korea is projected to become a "super-aged society," with over 20 percent of the population being 65 years or older. If this trend persists, the country's total population is estimated to decrease to around two-thirds of the current population. Despite efforts to address the declining birth rate, South Korea has not been successful in reversing this trend.

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

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

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

Life expectancy at birth, male (years) in Central African Republic was reported at 52.26 years in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Central African Republic - Life expectancy at birth, male (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.