As of 2023, life expectancy at birth in the Maldives was approximately **** years. In comparison, life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan was approximately **** years in 2023.

In 2024, the average life expectancy for males at birth in the Maldives was **** years. Comparatively, the average life expectancy for males at birth in Pakistan was **** years in 2024.

Life expectancy at birth, total (years) in South Asia was reported at 72.32 years in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Asia - Life expectancy at birth, total (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

In Asia, the highest levels of life expectancy were found in East Asia, reaching 76 years for men and 82 years for women. The lowest levels were found in South Asia.

What is life expectancy

Life expectancy is, in the statistical sense, the number of years to be lived. It is the most common measure to describe population health. The life expectancy is an average and a person may die several years before or several years after their expected survival.

Economic circumstances also affect life expectancy. Life expectancy in the wealthiest countries is higher than in the poorest areas. With a life expectancy of 84 years, Japan, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and South Korea lead the ranking of the 20 countries with the highest life expectancy as of 2021. The countries with the lowest life expectancy in 2021 were Chad, Nigeria, and Lesotho.

Gender and life expectancy

The gender differences in life expectancy are significant. Women tend to live several years longer than men. The average life expectancy worldwide of those born in 2023 shows that women had an average life expectancy of 75 years at birth, while men were expected to live 70 years.

Historical dataset showing South Asia life expectancy by year from 1960 to 2023.

Actual value and historical data chart for South Asia Life Expectancy At Birth Female Years

In 2024, the average female life expectancy at birth in the Maldives was **** years. Comparatively, the average life expectancy for women at birth in Afghanistan was **** years in 2024.

Life Expectancy at Birth, Total for South Asia was 71.59815 Number of Years in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Life Expectancy at Birth, Total for South Asia reached a record high of 71.59815 in January of 2023 and a record low of 35.76349 in January of 1950. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Life Expectancy at Birth, Total for South Asia - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

Affordable health care is often a result of increased government spending on the health sector. Out-of-pocket expenses remain the primary health care funding source in many South Asian nations. Lack of adequate public funding for health services, difficulty in obtaining health insurance, and high out-of-pocket costs can result in indebtedness, reductions in actual consumption, and decreased access to health care services. The study examines life expectancy and health care spending in South Asian countries. The life expectancy of South Asian countries is studied as a health outcome in relation to health care spending, gross national income per capita, and expected years of schooling. This study is based on secondary data from World Bank statistics that covers eight South Asian countries from 2000 to 2021, for a total of 176 pooled time series and cross-sectional observations. The data were analysed using econometric models, including the cross sectional dependency test, panel unit root test, panel co-integration test, vector error correction model, pair-wise Granger causality test, and Wald test statistics. The vector error correction model results indicate that health care spending, anticipated years of schooling, and gross national income per capita have a long-run association with health outcomes. Health care spending, per capita gross national income, and expected years of education have all greatly enhanced life expectancy in South Asian countries. An effective health strategy is necessary to increase people’s healthy life expectancy and well-being. To accomplish this, government may need to promote school enrolment to help people become more health literate and aware of their health outcomes. As a result, persons with more years of schooling have better health, higher levels of well-being, healthier habits, and ultimately, a longer life expectancy. This study will provide an important insight to policymakers in improving health outcomes through targeted and sustained health care spending in South Asia.

The average for 2022 based on 11 countries was 75.66 years. The highest value was in Singapore: 85.2 years and the lowest value was in India: 69.38 years. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Affordable health care is often a result of increased government spending on the health sector. Out-of-pocket expenses remain the primary health care funding source in many South Asian nations. Lack of adequate public funding for health services, difficulty in obtaining health insurance, and high out-of-pocket costs can result in indebtedness, reductions in actual consumption, and decreased access to health care services. The study examines life expectancy and health care spending in South Asian countries. The life expectancy of South Asian countries is studied as a health outcome in relation to health care spending, gross national income per capita, and expected years of schooling. This study is based on secondary data from World Bank statistics that covers eight South Asian countries from 2000 to 2021, for a total of 176 pooled time series and cross-sectional observations. The data were analysed using econometric models, including the cross sectional dependency test, panel unit root test, panel co-integration test, vector error correction model, pair-wise Granger causality test, and Wald test statistics. The vector error correction model results indicate that health care spending, anticipated years of schooling, and gross national income per capita have a long-run association with health outcomes. Health care spending, per capita gross national income, and expected years of education have all greatly enhanced life expectancy in South Asian countries. An effective health strategy is necessary to increase people’s healthy life expectancy and well-being. To accomplish this, government may need to promote school enrolment to help people become more health literate and aware of their health outcomes. As a result, persons with more years of schooling have better health, higher levels of well-being, healthier habits, and ultimately, a longer life expectancy. This study will provide an important insight to policymakers in improving health outcomes through targeted and sustained health care spending in South Asia.

Singapore had the highest life expectancy at birth of all the Southeast Asian countries in 2023, with its citizens expected to live to an average of **** years. Falling behind by almost 20 years was Myanmar, with a life expectancy of **** years old at birth as of 2023. Interestingly, Singapore made the top ten of countries with the highest average life expectancy worldwide. Increasing life expectancyLife expectancy throughout the Southeast Asian region has been rising throughout recent years, likely due to improved healthcare systems. Improvements brought about by increasing healthcare expenditures. The East Asian region also joined Southeast Asia in displaying higher life expectancies at birth, with Hong Kong and Macao all exhibiting life expectancies at birth of over 85 years old. Improved healthcare Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore are just some of the Southeast Asian governments which have released successful universal healthcare plans. As the region faces an aging population, there has been more demand for effective healthcare. Healthcare has been improving not just in the Southeast Asian region but throughout the whole Asia Pacific region, with many countries exhibiting near perfect child immunization rates, offering its citizens better healthcare from birth. With these improvements made, it does not seem surprising that life expectancy at birth has increased.

Actual value and historical data chart for South Asia School Life Expectancy Tertiary Male Years

In 2025, the average life expectancy at birth for men in Singapore was **** years. Comparatively, the male life expectancy at birth was **** years in Myanmar. That year, the life expectancy for women in Southeast Asia was also highest in Singapore.

Context

Life expectancy at birth is a key metric reflecting the average number of years a person can expect to live from birth, considering current mortality rates. Across the globe, life expectancy varies widely due to factors such as healthcare access, socio-economic conditions, and lifestyle choices. Developed nations often boast higher life expectancies, typically ranging from 75 to 85 years, owing to advanced healthcare systems and improved living standards. In contrast, developing nations often face shorter life expectancies, frequently falling below 70 years, largely due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure and prevailing socio-economic challenges. These disparities underscore the critical importance of global efforts to enhance healthcare access and address socio-economic inequalities.

Content

This dataset comprises historical information encompassing various indicators concerning Life Expectancy at Birth on a global scale. The dataset prominently features: ISO3, Country, Continent, Hemisphere, Human Development Groups, UNDP Developing Regions, HDI Rank (2021), and Life Expectancy at Birth from 1990 to 2021.

Dataset Glossary (Column-wise)

• ISO3 - ISO3 for the Country/Territory
• Country - Name of the Country/Territory
• Continent - Name of the Continent
• Hemisphere - Name of the Hemisphere
• Human Development Groups - Human Development Groups
• UNDP Developing Regions - UNDP Developing Regions
• HDI Rank (2021) - Human Development Index Rank for 2021
• Life Expectancy at Birth from 1990 - 2021 - Life Expectancy at Birth from year 1990 to 2021 (32 Columns.)

Data Dictionary

• UNDP Developing Regions:
  • SSA - Sub-Saharan Africa
  • LAC - Latin America and the Caribbean
  • EAP - East Asia and the Pacific
  • AS - Arab States
  • ECA - Europe and Central Asia
  • SA - South Asia

Structure of the Dataset

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Acknowledgement

This Dataset is created from Human Development Reports. This Dataset falls under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO License. You can check the Terms of Use of this Data. If you want to learn more, visit the Website.

Cover Photo by: Image by Freepik

Thumbnail by: Image by Quality of life icons created by Paul J. - Flaticon

Affordable health care is often a result of increased government spending on the health sector. Out-of-pocket expenses remain the primary health care funding source in many South Asian nations. Lack of adequate public funding for health services, difficulty in obtaining health insurance, and high out-of-pocket costs can result in indebtedness, reductions in actual consumption, and decreased access to health care services. The study examines life expectancy and health care spending in South Asian countries. The life expectancy of South Asian countries is studied as a health outcome in relation to health care spending, gross national income per capita, and expected years of schooling. This study is based on secondary data from World Bank statistics that covers eight South Asian countries from 2000 to 2021, for a total of 176 pooled time series and cross-sectional observations. The data were analysed using econometric models, including the cross sectional dependency test, panel unit root test, panel co-integration test, vector error correction model, pair-wise Granger causality test, and Wald test statistics. The vector error correction model results indicate that health care spending, anticipated years of schooling, and gross national income per capita have a long-run association with health outcomes. Health care spending, per capita gross national income, and expected years of education have all greatly enhanced life expectancy in South Asian countries. An effective health strategy is necessary to increase people’s healthy life expectancy and well-being. To accomplish this, government may need to promote school enrolment to help people become more health literate and aware of their health outcomes. As a result, persons with more years of schooling have better health, higher levels of well-being, healthier habits, and ultimately, a longer life expectancy. This study will provide an important insight to policymakers in improving health outcomes through targeted and sustained health care spending in South Asia.

Affordable health care is often a result of increased government spending on the health sector. Out-of-pocket expenses remain the primary health care funding source in many South Asian nations. Lack of adequate public funding for health services, difficulty in obtaining health insurance, and high out-of-pocket costs can result in indebtedness, reductions in actual consumption, and decreased access to health care services. The study examines life expectancy and health care spending in South Asian countries. The life expectancy of South Asian countries is studied as a health outcome in relation to health care spending, gross national income per capita, and expected years of schooling. This study is based on secondary data from World Bank statistics that covers eight South Asian countries from 2000 to 2021, for a total of 176 pooled time series and cross-sectional observations. The data were analysed using econometric models, including the cross sectional dependency test, panel unit root test, panel co-integration test, vector error correction model, pair-wise Granger causality test, and Wald test statistics. The vector error correction model results indicate that health care spending, anticipated years of schooling, and gross national income per capita have a long-run association with health outcomes. Health care spending, per capita gross national income, and expected years of education have all greatly enhanced life expectancy in South Asian countries. An effective health strategy is necessary to increase people’s healthy life expectancy and well-being. To accomplish this, government may need to promote school enrolment to help people become more health literate and aware of their health outcomes. As a result, persons with more years of schooling have better health, higher levels of well-being, healthier habits, and ultimately, a longer life expectancy. This study will provide an important insight to policymakers in improving health outcomes through targeted and sustained health care spending in South Asia.

This line chart displays life expectancy at birth (year) by date using the aggregation average, weighted by population in South-Eastern Asia. The data is about countries per year.

School life expectancy, primary and lower secondary, female (years) in South Asia was reported at 7.435 years in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Asia - School life expectancy, primary and lower secondary, female (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

In 2025, the average life expectancy at birth for women in Singapore was **** years. Comparatively, the female life expectancy at birth was 69.9 years in Timor-Leste. That year, the life expectancy for men in Southeast Asia was also highest in Singapore.