Life Expectancy Rankings
Top Countries in 2024
The latest scoop on life expectancy in 2024 shows some countries are sitting pretty at the top, thanks to solid healthcare, an amazing quality of life, and other good vibes. Check out who’s leading the pack in living long and prospering:
| Country | Life Expectancy (Years) |
|---|---|
| Japan | 85.3 |
| Switzerland | 84.2 |
| South Korea | 83.9 |
| Singapore | 83.6 |
| Italy | 83.4 |
| Spain | 83.3 |
| Australia | 83.2 |
| Iceland | 82.9 |
| Israel | 82.8 |
| Sweden | 82.6 |
Info was snagged from Worldometer.
These numbers show how long a newborn might stick around if nothing changes in death rates from their birthday onward. But remember, life expectancy isn’t a one-size-fits-all kinda thing—it shifts based on healthcare access, how folks live, and money matters.
Want to see how the rest of the world stacks up? Check out our deep dive into global economies. And if healthcare’s your jam, see which places offer publicly funded healthcare.
Dive into more guides:
Trends in Global Life Expectancy
Increase from 2000 to 2019
From 2000 to 2019, people around the world started living longer on average. Life expectancy jumped from 66.8 to 73.1 years (World Health Organization). ‘Healthy’ years—the time folks can expect to live disease-free—also crept up, going from 58.1 to 63.5 years.
What’s driving this trend? Well, we can tip our hats to a few key factors:
- Medical Breakthroughs: We’ve nailed down better treatments and check-ups on the regular (PMC).
- Improved Healthcare Access: More clinics and hospitals means more people can get the care they need when they need it.
- Vaccines: Shots for all sorts of diseases have kept death rates lower.
| Year | Life Expectancy (Years) | Healthy Life Expectancy (HALE) (Years) |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 66.8 | 58.1 |
| 2010 | 70.4 | 61.8 |
| 2019 | 73.1 | 63.5 |
Impact of COVID-19 on Life Expectancy
Then along came COVID-19, throwing a wrench in the works. By 2020, the virus had pushed global life expectancy back to the 2016 numbers, with life expectancy landing at 72.5 years and healthy years at 62.8. Matters took a turn for the worse in 2021, with both stats sliding further to match 2012 figures—71.4 years for life expectancy and 61.9 for HALE.
COVID-19’s worldwide toll surpassed six million, with life expectancy taking a notable hit especially in areas grappling with social inequality. In the U.S., the virus chopped off a significant chunk of life expectancy, especially for Black and Latino communities—2.10 and 3.05 years respectively (PMC).
| Year | Life Expectancy (Years) | Healthy Life Expectancy (HALE) (Years) |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 72.5 | 62.8 |
| 2020 | 72.5 | 62.8 |
| 2021 | 71.4 | 61.9 |
These setbacks underscore the pandemic’s wide-reaching effects, especially where poverty, flimsy health infrastructure, and scarce medical resources throw up roadblocks.
For more insights on life expectancy variations worldwide, take a peek at our list of African countries and list of European countries.
Factors Affecting Life Expectancy
Exploring what affects life expectancy helps us figure out why some countries sit comfortably at the top of the charts, while others are trying to catch up. Health care budgets and social influences are a couple of the main players here.
Healthcare Spending and Life Expectancy
Money talks when it comes to healthcare and how long we stick around. In general, places pouring more dollars into healthcare see folks living longer. But it ain’t all black and white.
The World Economic Forum points out that America, with its hefty healthcare spending, clocks in at an average lifespan of 77 years. Meanwhile, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea dish out less cash per person on healthcare but boast lives stretching into the 80s.
| Country | Healthcare Spending (USD per person) | Life Expectancy (years) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 11,000 | 77 |
| Japan | 4,150 | 84 |
| Singapore | 2,600 | 83 |
| South Korea | 3,240 | 82 |
Influence of Social Determinants
Where social stuff comes into play, it packs a punch in life expectancy land. Education, earning some bucks, safe roads, staying away from bad habits, and keeping a healthy diet all play their parts in how long people live.
NCBI shows that countries where folks hit the books hard and score high marks tend live longer. Plus, fewer car crashes and less dependence on harmful substances bump up those lifespan numbers.
A curious twist comes from looking at countries with these publicly funded healthcare setups. They’re averaging a life expectancy of 76.7 years compared to 66.8 years in those without, as per NCBI.
| Healthcare Access | Average Life Expectancy (years) |
|---|---|
| Publicly Funded Healthcare | 76.7 |
| No Public Healthcare | 66.8 |
Boosting how long people live calls for hitting both healthcare availability and social conditions equally. Making rules that up healthcare budgets, boost education, keep roads safe, and cut substance misuse makes a big difference.
To dig deeper into how life expectancy shakes out, pop over and check sections on list of countries in europe and list of south american countries.
Getting a handle on these aspects shows why some nations clinch the top spots on the list of countries by lifespan while others strategize to raise the bar.
Regional Variances in Life Expectancy
How long folks live in different countries offers some juicy insights into their overall health vibe. Turns out, a mix of stuff like who gets to see a doc, how loaded the wallets are, and the rules around health can tip the scales on how many candles they blow out.
G7 Countries and Asia
So, the cool G7 crew—like Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the good ol’ US of A—tend to live the life longevity dream. Take Japan, for instance, in the sixties, their life’s clock wasn’t ticking as long, but now, they’re at the top.
| Country | Life Expectancy (years) |
|---|---|
| Japan | 84.7 |
| Canada | 82.5 |
| Italy | 82.4 |
| France | 82.3 |
| United Kingdom | 81.4 |
| Germany | 80.9 |
| United States | 78.5 |
(Source: World Economic Forum).
Meanwhile, over in Asia, countries are leveling up. South Korea, which used to be looking at a short ride in life expectancy, is now in the running with the high rollers. Places like Singapore and Hong Kong are also strutting their stuff, and their numbers ain’t too shabby either.
Disparities in Africa and Oceania
But hold up—Africa and Oceania are a different story. Countries in Africa face a rough ride, with folks living shorter lives due to healthcare hiccups, pesky diseases, and tight money situations. For example, life expectancy in some African nations is still trying to catch up to the average.
| Country | Life Expectancy (years) |
|---|---|
| Nigeria | 54.3 |
| Ethiopia | 67.5 |
| Kenya | 66.0 |
| South Africa | 64.1 |
(Source: WHO).
Over in Oceania, it’s a mixed bag. Countries like Australia and New Zealand are chillin’ with high life numbers similar to the G7 folks, but smaller island nations have more hurdles with finding doctors and healthcare solutions.
If you’re into lists, here’s where to scope out the list of African countries and the list of Asian countries.
Getting a handle on these differences is a fair start to closing the gap and making sure everyone gets a fair shot at long and healthy lives. Extra deets on what drives these differences are lurking in sections about healthcare spending and social conditions.
Future Projections
Potential for Extended Longevity
Hold on to your hats—research in Nature Communications hints that humans might one day swagger their way to a ripe old age of 150 (World Economic Forum). Imagine blowing out that many candles! It all depends on fancy medical science tricks, fresh lifestyles, and a bit of genetic wizardry.
Some places like Okinawa in Japan, Ikaria in Greece, and Sardinia in Italy stand as living, breathing examples of folks who seem to have cracked the longevity code. These spots, where reaching 90 is, well, just hitting your stride, make it look easy. Their secret? Maybe their peace and quiet, sticking to old-school ways, and not chasing big bucks (MedlinePlus). There’s a thing or two to learn from these communities for sure.
Take a peek at a quick rundown of current average life expectancy in a few places:
| Region | Current Average Life Expectancy |
|---|---|
| Global | 72.6 years |
| Japan | 84.8 years |
| Greece | 82.1 years |
| Italy | 83.4 years |
Closing Gap between Developed and Developing Regions
Now, over at the UN headquarters, they say the life expectancy seesaw might be leveling out as time rolls by. Sounds like developing regions are catching up, thanks to hospitals springing up, a bit more cash in folks’ pockets, and smart kids getting smarter.
Take Brazil, for instance—this place proves that getting it right socially and economically can bump up those life numbers. They’re living a couple of years longer than expected for their wallet size. You can thank less inequality, women hitting the books, better health services, and an active society for that (International Journal for Equity in Health).
Ethiopia’s been working its magic too, going from a life expectancy of 38 years in the ’60s to 66 by 2018. It’s all about people-friendly health choices, cleaner water, and women’s rights paving the way (International Journal for Equity in Health).
For the nitty-gritty on how all this plays out, check out our articles on the list of African countries and the list of developed countries.
These heartening tales encourage a picture where developing regions don’t just play catch-up but start to stand tall beside developed ones. When everyone gets a fair shot at living long and healthy lives, we all win. Take a look at our list of countries by lifespan for more thoughts on this hopeful journey.
Impact of Health Care Access
Getting your hands on healthcare is a big deal when it comes to how long folks stick around in various countries. This bit looks at how having government-backed health care can stretch out people’s years and the role these systems play in keeping populations ticking a bit longer.
Countries with Publicly Funded Healthcare
Places where the government chips in for health care typically see their citizens living longer than those that don’t have such setups. A 2022 study taking into account data from 196 countries and 4 territories showed that life expectancy averaged 76.7 years in nations with government-backed health care, as opposed to just 66.8 years where it wasn’t a thing (NCBI).
| Category | Life Expectancy (Years) |
|---|---|
| Publicly Funded Health Care | 76.7 |
| No Publicly Funded Health Care | 66.8 |
Contributions to Longer Life Expectancy
Health systems funded by the government give people a better shot at living longer by making sure everyone can access medical help, no matter how much cash they have. These setups are golden for catching diseases early, rolling out vaccines, and offering preventive care. Plus, they ease the financial load, so folks don’t think twice before heading to the doctor.
Studies show that in countries with these systems, life expectancy rises purely because healthcare access acts as a backbone, even when other social and performance factors come into play (NCBI). The secret sauce is this mix of having access to funded health care and tackling social factors head-on. Together, they work wonders in upping how long people live.
Take Ethiopia for instance. It managed to bump up its expected life expectancy by three years through neighborhood-based health initiatives, getting more people clean water, boosting women’s education, empowering women, and backing strong community organizations (International Journal for Equity in Health). Over in Brazil, life expectancy climbed two years past what income levels suggested, thanks to socio-political advancements, income fairness, women’s education, widespread health coverage, robust community groups, and political engagement (International Journal for Equity in Health).
To dig deeper, take a peek at our list of african countries and list of european countries to see how different areas handle health care and life spans. You can also check out the list of countries by hdi for a look into how human development lines up with health care access and living longer.
Country Case Studies
Taking a closer peek at specific countries gives us a pretty good idea about how they’re keeping folks ticking longer and can shed some light for others trying to get on the same page. Let’s break down what’s happening in Ethiopia and Brazil to see how they’ve nudged the lifespan meter upwards.
Success Factors in Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s been stepping up its game when it comes to how long its folks are living. According to some eggheads over at the International Journal for Equity in Health, the good people of Ethiopia are hanging around about three more years than expected. Here’s what they’re doing right:
- Local Health Plans: Getting the community involved has been a big win. They’ve got health folks making the rounds, ensuring everyone knows about the basics and staying ahead of the curve with preventive know-how.
- Clean Water: Simply getting people to clean, safe drinking water makes a massive difference and keeps those pesky diseases at bay.
- Empowering Women: When women get educated, everyone wins. Having women more involved and respected leads to healthier families.
- Community Groups: Local groups buddying up with the government has made rolling out programs a breeze.
| What They Did | Effect on Lifespan |
| --- | --- |
| Local Health Plans | High |
| Clean Water | Moderate |
| Women's Education | High |
| Empowering Women | High |
| Community Groups | High |
Achievements in Brazil
Over in Brazil, they’re also topping the life charts by about two years according to the same International Journal for Equity in Health. Here’s their secret sauce:
- Better Money and Politics: Brazil’s found itself in a better place economically and politically. A little fairer wealth distribution and reforms have gone a long way.
- Educating Women: Again, smarter women equal healthier communities.
- Universal Healthcare: Loads of folks have healthcare now, which means fewer folks falling ill without help.
- Strong Civil Groups: Having loud and proud groups fighting for the people keeps the government on its toes.
- Active Political Scene: Being vocal and involved in politics has helped push for the kind of policies that keep people healthier.
| What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger | Effect on Lifespan |
| --- | --- |
| Better Money and Politics | High |
| Educating Women | High |
| Universal Healthcare | High |
| Strong Civil Groups | Moderate |
| Active Political Scene | Moderate |
These snapshots show that the right mix of strategies can really stretch out our time here. Learning from these champs can help other nations follow suit and ensure folks everywhere can enjoy longer, healthier lives.
For more deep dives, check out list of African countries, list of South American countries, and list of countries by HDI.
Gender Disparities
Women Outliving Men
Guess what? Women, on average, have a knack for living longer than men, no matter where you look on the map. This trend is pretty much a global thing. It’s most noticeable in richer nations, but the gap in life expectancy between genders can change depending on where you are. The World Health Organization says the life gap shrinks when women don’t have proper access to healthcare. In poorer countries, one in 41 women can die from pregnancy-related causes. Contrast that with one in 3300 for richer countries; it’s a huge difference!
Factors Contributing to the Gender Gap
There’s more to why women usually outlast men than meets the eye. Think of it like layers in a big, complicated cake made of biology, behavior, and society stuff.
- Biological Factors:
- Men’s health often takes a bigger hit from chronic diseases. According to 2016 stats, a 30-year-old guy had a 44% higher chance of not making it to 70 than his female peers because of these conditions (WHO).
- Even from the start, newborn boys have a higher chance of not surviving compared to girls (Our World In Data).
- Behavioral Factors:
- Men tend to live on the edge more often than women, leading to grim statistics. For instance, men had a whopping 75% higher suicide rate than women back in 2016. When it comes to road accidents, starting from age 15, men die at over twice the rate of women. Homicide? Four times higher for men (WHO).
- Social Determinants:
- Access to decent healthcare is a game-changer. In richer countries, women have the luxury of better medical services, leading to smoother pregnancies and childbirths. But in poorer places, many women face serious risks without proper care.
- When they age, men are more likely to get stuck with chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes, shaving years off their lifespans globally (Our World In Data).
These elements together form a complex puzzle explaining why women generally live longer. The difference shifts based on where folks live and what their economic status is. Interested in digging deeper into life expectancy around the world? Check out our list of countries by lifespan.
| Country | Life Expectancy Women | Life Expectancy Men | Gender Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 87 | 81 | 6 |
| Nigeria | 54 | 53 | 1 |
| United States | 81 | 76 | 5 |
Data Source: Our World In Data
For more insights on how this plays out in different parts of the world, take a peek at our list of European countries and list of African countries.
Genetics and Longevity
Ever wondered why some folks seem to stick around longer than others? Well, it’s a mix of genes and how we live our lives that play a part in deciding how far we can stretch our years. Let’s look into how these pieces fit together and what they tell us about the number of candles on our birthday cake.
Genetic Impact on Lifespan
About a quarter of the reason behind how long we live is down to our genes (MedlinePlus). There’s still much to figure out about how certain genes keep us ticking, but a few are becoming the talk of the town, like APOE, FOXO3, and CETP.
| Gene | Link to Living Long |
|---|---|
| APOE | Has ties to Alzheimer’s and heart troubles, though some versions might help us last longer. |
| FOXO3 | Cuts the risk of old-age illnesses. |
| CETP | Variants can boost good cholesterol levels, which is great for the heart. |
Taking a deep dive into the entire genome of those who’ve hit the century mark and beyond shows us more genetic clues. These hidden treasures could explain why some folks keep going strong well into their twelfth decade. If you’re curious about where people live the longest, take a peek at our list of countries by lifespan.
Lifestyle and Longevity Factors
Genes might be the hand you’re dealt, but your lifestyle is how you play it, and it’s just as important, especially earlier in life (MedlinePlus). Here are some living tips worth keeping in mind:
- Diet: Munch on plenty of fruits, veggies, and whole grains.
- Exercise: Keep up with regular workouts to keep the heart and muscles happy.
- No Smoking: Ditch smoking and go easy on the booze.
- Mental Health: Keep stress in check and stay connected with folks.
Living this way doesn’t just add years to your life, but makes those years better, too. When good genes join forces with healthy living, you’re set up for a longer, more enjoyable life.
These differences in lifestyle and genes help explain why people in some places live longer than others. Want to dive deeper? Check out our pieces on the list of developed countries and list of developing countries.
By sizing up both genes and lifestyle choices, you get a clear picture of what shapes lifespan around the globe. Get more on how life expectancy varies by exploring our take on regional differences in life expectancy.