Life expectancy varies by country of birth. In the past fifty years, global longevity has increased, narrowing regional gaps. However, wealth disparities persist, particularly in Africa.
Increase in average life expectancy worldwide
Global life expectancy has risen significantly over the past fifty years. According to a United Nations report, the average lifespan has increased from 47 years for those born in the early 1950s to 71 years for those born in 2020, an overall gain of 25 years. However, this progress varies by continent.
Asia saw the largest increase, with life expectancy climbing by 30 years. Africa’s life expectancy grew by 24 years, while Europe, despite its development, experienced the smallest rise of just 14 years.
From 2000 to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, global life expectancy steadily improved. It rose from 66.8 years in 2000 to 73.1 years in 2019. For men, the average lifespan increased from 64.4 to 70.6 years, and for women, it went up from 69.2 to 75.7 years.
Pandemic : Major cause of global human loss
Like the devastating effects of plague and cholera, COVID-19 has caused a significant rise in global mortality. The pandemic led to a 1.8-year decline in life expectancy between 2019 and 2021, erasing a decade’s worth of progress in longevity. Additionally, healthy life expectancy dropped by 1.5 years to 61.9 years in 2021, reverting to levels seen in 2012.
However, this decline is uneven across the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the American and South-East Asian regions experienced the largest losses. In these areas, life expectancy fell by 3 years, and healthy life expectancy decreased by 2.5 years.
Central America and Eastern Europe also faced significant declines, with life expectancy dropping by 3.5 years during the same period. In contrast, the Western Pacific region was less affected, with life expectancy declining by less than 0.1 years and healthy life expectancy decreasing by 0.2 years. These regional differences highlight the varying effectiveness of public health systems in managing the impacts of global health crises.
Life expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa : Country rankings
According to the Global Health Statistics report, regional disparities in life expectancy have decreased over the years. In 1950, there was a 25-year gap in longevity between Europe and Africa. By 2021, this gap had narrowed to 15 years, but inequalities remain.
In Europe, the average lifespan is 77 years, while in Africa, it stands at 62 years. This significant difference underscores the ongoing health and socio-economic challenges faced by African countries.
Which country has the lowest life expectancy?
The ten countries with the lowest life expectancy are all located in sub-Saharan Africa, which faces significant challenges in improving health and well-being. Chad has the lowest life expectancy in the world, at just 52.5 years, well below the global average.
Following Chad, Nigeria and the Central African Republic have life expectancies of 52.7 and 53.9 years, respectively. However, this low life expectancy is not representative of the entire African continent. Some regions, such as the Maghreb, have notably higher life expectancies.
Challenges of African living conditions
Low life expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa is primarily due to challenging living conditions and insufficient funding for public health by local governments. Limited access to healthcare services, quality medicines, and essential resources exacerbates the situation.
Conflicts, epidemics, climate change, and food insecurity also contribute to the health crisis. Without improvements in living conditions, individuals born in 2020 in Chad or Nigeria can expect an average life expectancy of just 53 years.
Inequalities in life expectancy
Inequalities in life expectancy are shaped by a range of interconnected factors, with lifestyle being a major contributor. In countries with low life expectancy, precarious living conditions, inadequate housing, and limited access to clean drinking water are common.
In sub-Saharan Africa, an average life expectancy of around 60 years reflects ongoing issues such as poverty, conflict, and epidemics. Moreover, disparities in longevity often persist within countries, frequently along social and economic lines.
Convergence towards improved longevity
Significant development efforts worldwide have led to increased life expectancy. Economic growth, progress in combating infectious diseases, advancements in education, and improvements in hygiene and healthcare systems are helping to bring longevity levels in Asia and Africa closer to those in developed countries. Better working conditions and greater access to healthcare, including vaccines, have enabled many people in various regions to live into their 70s and beyond.
It’s no surprise that the wealthiest countries lead the life expectancy rankings, often exceeding 80 years. These nations benefit from security, adequate nutrition, improved working conditions, and high healthcare spending. For example, Japan and Australia have life expectancies of 85 years, while Spain and France stand at 82 years.
