In 2024, the average life expectancy in the world was 71 years for men and 76 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 standards 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 2022, the countries with the highest life expectancy were Japan, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Australia, all at 84–83 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 53–54 years.

This statistic shows the average life expectancy in North America for those born in 2022, by gender and region. In Canada, the average life expectancy was 80 years for males and 84 years for females.

Life expectancy in North America

Of those considered in this statistic, the life expectancy of female Canadian infants born in 2021 was the longest, at 84 years. Female infants born in America that year had a similarly high life expectancy of 81 years. Male infants, meanwhile, had lower life expectancies of 80 years (Canada) and 76 years (USA).

Compare this to the worldwide life expectancy for babies born in 2021: 75 years for women and 71 years for men. Of continents worldwide, North America ranks equal first in terms of life expectancy of (77 years for men and 81 years for women). Life expectancy is lowest in Africa at just 63 years and 66 years for males and females respectively. Japan is the country with the highest life expectancy worldwide for babies born in 2020.

Life expectancy is calculated according to current mortality rates of the population in question. Global variations in life expectancy are caused by differences in medical care, public health and diet, and reflect global inequalities in economic circumstances. Africa’s low life expectancy, for example, can be attributed in part to the AIDS epidemic. In 2019, around 72,000 people died of AIDS in South Africa, the largest amount worldwide. Nigeria, Tanzania and India were also high on the list of countries ranked by AIDS deaths that year. Likewise, Africa has by far the highest rate of mortality by communicable disease (i.e. AIDS, neglected tropics diseases, malaria and tuberculosis).

Life expectancy at birth, male (years) in United States was reported at 75.8 years in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Life expectancy at birth, male (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

From the mid-19th century until today, life expectancy at birth in the United States has roughly doubled, from 39.4 years in 1850 to 79.6 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 eight year drop during the American Civil War in the 1860s, a seven year drop during the Spanish Flu empidemic in 1918, and a 2.5 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 2010s, 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 1950s, 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.

Life expectancy at birth, female (years) in United States was reported at 81.1 years in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Life expectancy at birth, female (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Life expectancy at birth, male (years) in North America was reported at 74.24 years in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North America - Life expectancy at birth, male (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

The total life expectancy at birth in the United States stood at 78.39 years in 2023. Between 1960 and 2023, the life expectancy at birth rose by 8.62 years, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

School life expectancy, primary and secondary, male (years) in United States was reported at 12.05 years in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - School life expectancy, primary and secondary, male (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

The life expectancy of men at birth in the United States stood at 75.8 years in 2023. Between 1960 and 2023, the life expectancy rose by 9.2 years, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

School life expectancy, primary, male (years) in United States was reported at 6.0736 years in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - School life expectancy, primary, male (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Life expectancy at birth, male (years) in Georgia was reported at 69.57 years in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Georgia - Life expectancy at birth, male (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

School life expectancy, secondary, male (years) in United States was reported at 5.9778 years in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - School life expectancy, secondary, male (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Men born in Chad have the lowest life expectancy in the world as of 2024, reaching only ** years. The lowest life expectancy for women in the world in 2024 was for girls born in Nigeria, with only ** years. Except for Afghanistan, all the countries with the lowest life expectancy in the world are in Africa.

School life expectancy, tertiary, male (years) in United States was reported at 3.4066 years in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - School life expectancy, tertiary, male (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

School life expectancy, post-secondary non-tertiary, male (years) in United States was reported at 0.21566 years in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - School life expectancy, post-secondary non-tertiary, male (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

School life expectancy, primary and secondary, male (years) in North America was reported at 12.12 years in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North America - School life expectancy, primary and secondary, male (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

School life expectancy, primary and lower secondary, male (years) in United States was reported at 9.1519 years in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - School life expectancy, primary and lower secondary, male (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

School life expectancy, tertiary, male (years) in North America was reported at 3.3618 years in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North America - School life expectancy, tertiary, male (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

In 2023, a woman in the United States aged 65 years could expect to live another **** years on average. This number decreased in the years 2020 and 2021, after reaching a high of **** years in 2019. Nevertheless, the life expectancy of a woman aged 65 years in the United States is still higher than that of a man of that age. In 2023, a man aged 65 years could be expected to live another 18.2 years on average. Why has the life expectancy in the U.S. declined? Overall, life expectancy in the United States has declined in recent years. In 2019, the life expectancy for U.S. women was **** years, but by 2023 it had decreased to **** years. Likewise, the life expectancy for men decreased from **** years to **** years in the same period. The biggest contributors to this decline in life expectancy are the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid epidemic. Although deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic have decreased significantly since 2022, deaths from opioid overdose continue to increase, reaching all-time highs in 2022. The leading causes of death among U.S. women The leading causes of death among women in the United States in 2022 were heart disease, cancer, stroke, and COVID-19. That year, heart disease and cancer accounted for a combined **** percent of all deaths among women, while around *** percent of deaths were due to COVID-19. The overall leading causes of death in the United States generally reflect the leading causes among women, with some slight variations. For example, Alzheimer’s disease is the ***** leading cause of death among women but the ******* leading cause of death overall in the United States.

Number of deaths and mortality rates, by age group, sex, and place of residence, 1991 to most recent year.