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Life Expectancy by Country 2023

Life expectancy at birth reflects the overall mortality level of a population. It is the average number of years that a person may expect to live, from birth to death. Studies indicate that longevity is based on three major factors: genetics, gender, and lifestyle, which includes components such as hygiene, diet and exercise, culture, lifestyle choices (such as smoking and profession), access to quality healthcare, and even crime rates. Given country-to-country differences in many of these components, it is perhaps unsurprising that countries around the world have varying life expectancies.

According to the United Nations, the global life expectancy as of 2023 was 70.8 years for males and 76.0 years for females, for an average of 73.4 years. Life expectancies vary significantly by region as well as by country, and in 2023 ranged from a low of 57.7 years in Western Africa to a high of 82.7 years in Western Europe.

Overall, life expectancy is on the rise. Between 2000 and 2016, the average life expectancy increased by 5.5 years globally, highlighted by an increase of 10.3 years in parts of Africa. This was largely due to improvements in the survival of children aged 0-5 and expanded access to antiretroviral treatments for HIV/AIDS. Viewing the world as a whole, the number of people born each day is higher than the number of deaths per day, which has led to explosive population growth over the past 200 years.

10 Countries with the Longest Life Expectancies (United Nations 2023):

RankBoth GendersMalesFemales
CountryYearsCountryYearsCountryYears
1Monaco87.01Monaco85.17Monaco88.99
2Hong Kong85.83Liechtenstein83.16Hong Kong88.66
3Macau85.51Hong Kong83.00Macau88.11
4Japan84.95Macau82.88Japan87.97
5Liechtenstein84.77Switzerland82.63South Korea87.23
6Switzerland84.38San Marino82.21Spain86.68
7Singapore84.27Vatican City82.17Guadeloupe86.43
8Italy84.20Italy82.15Singapore86.42
9Vatican City84.16Singapore82.13Liechtenstein86.23
10South Korea84.14Sweden82.08Italy86.13

10 Countries with the Shortest Life Expectancies (United Nations 2023):

RankBoth GendersMalesFemales
CountryYearsCountryYearsCountryYears
1Chad53.68Chad52.01Nigeria54.24
2Nigeria53.87Lesotho52.12Chad57.68
3Lesotho54.91Central African Republic53.38Central African Republic57.68
4Central African Republic55.48Nigeria53.50Lesotho57.82
5South Sudan56.51Eswatini53.97South Sudan57.97
6Somalia57.35South Sudan54.99Somalia59.47
7Eswatini57.71Somalia55.32Guinea60.83
8Namibia59.53Namibia55.98Mali61.41
9Guinea59.55Guinea58.18Ivory Coast61.46
10Mali60.03Guinea Bissau58.38Eswatini61.86

As a rule, the countries with the lowest life expectancies in the world tend to be located in Africa. However, the WHO African Region has seen a massive improvement in life expectancy in recent years, registering an increase of 10.3 years between 2000 and 2016. African countries often struggle with hunger and especially with disease. Many African countries were hit hard by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and malaria has been an issue for even longer. Even diseases that are largely unheard of in other parts of the world, such as measles, cholera, and monkeypox remain an active concern in some African countries.

Fortunately, treatments for both HIV and malaria have become more widely available since 2000, and are considered the main reason Africa's life expectancy increased by more than 10 years between 2000 and 2016. While the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating effect on African lifespans, it too was brought largely under control by late 2022. The WHO expects that health treatments across the African continent will continue to improve, further increasing life expectancy in those countries.

Life expectancy versus healthy life expectancy (HALE)

In addition to general life expectancy, some sources track healthy life expectancy (HALE), a related metric with one crucial difference. The difference between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy is hinted at by their names. Life expectancy measures the average total years in a person's life, while healthy life expectancy tracks the number of years during which an average person would consider themselves healthy.

Because of this variation in meaning, healthy life expectancy tends to be notably shorter than life expectancy, as most individuals' overall health declines at least somewhat as they approach senescence. For instance, according to the World Health Organization, the average life expectancy for residents of the United States was 78.5 years in 2019. However, healthy life expectancy in the United States during that same year was 66.1 years.

Profiles: Countries with the longest and shortest life expectancies

1. Monaco

One of the smallest countries in the world, Monaco also has the UN's longest estimated life expectancy of any country as of 2023. Males in Monaco are expected to live an average of 85.17 years, and females are expected to live an even longer 88.99 years, for an overall average of 87.01 years.

Why do Monaco's people live so long? Experts attribute the country's extra-long lifespans to multiple factors. First is the Mediterranean diet, which is high in healthy seafood, fruits, and vegetables. Second is the country's top-notch (and state-funded) healthcare system, and third is the large percentage of residents with enough disposable income to afford healthy lifestyles and any additional wellness aids they may desire.

2. Hong Kong

Technically not a sovereign nation but a Special Administrative Region of China, the United Nations estimates that Hong Kong has the second-highest life expectancy in the world as of 2023. The average life expectancy in Hong Kong is 88.66 years for females and 83.00 for males. After World War II, Hong Kong underwent rapid economic development and has since seen a steady increase in the life expectancy of its people.

Hong Kong has world-class education and employment programs, the lowest infant mortality rate in the world, and high-quality child health care. Yet, Hong Kong spends less on both health and social care as a proportion of its GDP than many other countries, including the United States or the United Kingdom.

3. Macau

Macau, the second Special Administrative Region of China, has the third-highest life expectancy of 2023 at 85.51 years. Males born in Macau can expect to live for about 82.88 years and women can expect to live approximately 88.11 years. Macau’s high life expectancy is attributed to factors including its clean environment and air, great education, easy access to health care, and strong economy.

4. Japan

Japan has 2023's fourth-highest life expectancy at roughly 87.97 years for females and 81.91 years for males, for a total average lifespan of 84.95 years. According to a 2016 study, Japan’s high life expectancy is largely attributed to diet. The Japanese have diets with lots of fruits and vegetables, fresh meat and fish, and grain-based foods (very similar to the Mediterranean diet).

Additionally, the Japanese government invested heavily in public health more than 50 years ago, which resulted in robust childhood vaccination programs and the introduction of universal health insurance, has also been credited for the high life expectancy. Japanese citizens also remain very active, even into their elderly years.

5. Liechtenstein

Another tiny European country, the micronation Liechtenstein boasts an average life expectancy of 84.95 years—83.16 years for males and 86.23 for females. Quality of life is high in Liechtenstein, which is both a high-income country and also the least-visited country in Europe. More importantly for longevity, Liechtenstein is also one of several countries that offer free health care to residents.

6. Switzerland

Switzerland’s average life expectancy is 84.38 years. Women are expected to live about 86.05 years and men are expected to live about 82.63 years. The life expectancy in Switzerland is almost double what it was at the beginning of the 20th century.

Studies point to several possible secrets to Switzerland's high life expectancy, including active lifestyles, a sense of well-being and satisfaction, and a diet consisting of lots of dairy products including cheese and dark chocolate. Switzerland also spends a higher percentage of its GDP on healthcare than any other country in the European Union, and its people have a strong cultural appreciation for preventative health and healthy aging.

7. Singapore

Singapore has the seventh-highest life expectancy in the world as of 2023, with an average lifespan of 82.13 years for males and 86.42 years for females, leading to a combined average of 84.27 years. Singapore has very low infant mortality rates, road traffic mortality rates, and deaths related to air pollution. Additionally, Singapore has a very low mortality rate for cardiovascular or chronic respiratory diseases as well as diseases related to unsafe water or lack of hygiene.

8. Italy

With the eighth-highest life expectancy of any country, Italians can expect to live 84.20 years on average. This is 86.13 years for women and 82.15 years for men. Italian life expectancy has seen small decreases in recent years, which has been attributed to roughly 8.4% of Italy’s population living in deep poverty. The northern portion of the country, which is the most economically developed, has a life expectancy of about three years higher than that of the northern, less wealthy part of the country.

9. Vatican City

The smallest country in Europe as well as the world, Vatican City is also unique in that its population is almost entirely made up of non-natives—Catholic clergymen, to be specific. Despite these unusual demographics, the population of Vatican City enjoys the ninth-longest life expectancy of any country in the world. Men in Vatican City in 2023 have an average life expectancy of 82.17 years, while females—who make up roughly 5% of the population—have a life expectancy of 86.03 years, which combine for a total life expectancy of 84.16 years.

10. South Korea

Rounding out 2023's top 10 countries with the longest life expectancy is another Asian country, South Korea, where men live an average of 80.83 years and women live an average of 87.23 years, for a combined life expectancy of 84.14 years.

South Korea's life expectancy may be the fastest-growing in the world. As recently as 1960, the average life expectancy in South Korea was roughly 52 years. However, a greater understanding of nutrition, improvements in food distribution, and better access to health and social care have enabled the country to make huge strides in terms of logevity. In fact, many experts expect South Koreans to enjoy the longest life expectancies in the world by 2030.

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Country
UN - Both sexes
UN - Male
UN - Female
WB - Both sexes
WB - Male
WB - Female
Monaco87.0185.1788.99
Hong Kong85.838388.66858388
Macau85.5182.8888.11858388
Japan84.9581.9187.97858288
Liechtenstein84.7783.1686.23828084
Switzerland84.3882.6386.05838185
Singapore84.2782.1386.42848286
Italy84.282.1586.13828085
Vatican City84.1682.1786.03
South Korea84.1480.8387.23737176
Spain84.0581.3586.68828085
Malta83.8581.8185.83838185
Australia83.7381.8985.56838185
Andorra83.7181.685.97
French Polynesia83.781.4986.09827986
Sweden83.6582.0885.22828184
San Marino83.5882.2184.85
Norway83.5581.9185.17838285
Martinique83.4580.4486.09
Israel83.3981.5985.1838185
France83.3580.586.08827985
Guadeloupe83.3379.6886.43
New Zealand83.1581.4384.84828084
Canada83.0281.0784.94828084
Gibraltar8381.1384.85828084
Iceland82.9681.5584.41838285
Guernsey82.9481.2684.58
Ireland82.8781.2184.54828084
Reunion82.7879.9585.52
Luxembourg82.7480.6484.89827984
Netherlands82.5881.184.02818083
Austria82.5780.3584.72817984
Finland82.5180.0185827985
Belgium82.4680.3684.5817983
Portugal82.4279.5385.06817884
United Kingdom82.3180.6183.97817983
Slovenia82.3179.8684.75817883
Germany82.1879.984.44817983
Cyprus82.0580.2683.81817983
Denmark82.0380.1483.92828084
Greece8279.5884.44817984
Bermuda81.7578.6584.64827886
Qatar81.7380.8183.25797881
Jersey81.4379.283.64
Isle of Man81.2879.4783.1817983
New Caledonia81.1877.7584.74817785
Chile81.1678.8483.41797782
Maldives81.0780.382.06807981
Saint Barthelemy80.8477.8383.89
Saint Martin80.7677.7283.79807783
Bahrain80.6979.6881.92797880
United Arab Emirates80.4679.0282.57797781
Kuwait80.4579.0982.91777580
Costa Rica80.2677.9282.66797782
Wallis and Futuna80.1579.1481.14
Puerto Rico79.9475.8384.04787483
Thailand79.9175.7584.08797584
United States79.7477.2782.23777580
Falkland Islands79.4677.5881.44
Antigua and Barbuda79.4276.7181.8797681
Croatia79.476.6182.14787581
Estonia79.3175.283.11787483
Faroe Islands79.0777.4980.86838186
Oman78.9777.4580.77757377
China78.7976.1881.51787581
Turkey78.6875.6281.67767379
Poland78.674.8882.26777381
Panama78.5675.6281.59777380
Guam78.5275.0682.2777282
Slovakia78.3675.0481.59777480
Cuba78.3375.9780.73787580
Uruguay78.1674.3481.82787582
Saudi Arabia78.176.8779.73767578
Ecuador78.0875.5180.65726976
Albania78.0675.8380.54777580
Mayotte78.0174.7381.46
Argentina77.9874.6281.26767379
Barbados77.8675.8379.74777579
Montenegro77.7874.6180.82767379
Saint Pierre and Miquelon77.7874.281.82
Anguilla77.6474.3481.31
French Guiana77.6374.9480.48
Colombia77.5174.6180.4757278
Algeria77.3376.0578.67747376
Hungary77.0973.7680.27767279
Iran76.9774.2879.84757278
Peru76.9674.6979.26747177
Tunisia76.9473.8680.18757279
Cape Verde76.9372.5780.9757079
Aruba76.973.9579.62767378
Lithuania76.8572.3581.16757080
Curacao76.8272.8880.42787582
Sri Lanka76.873.0680.39767380
British Virgin Islands76.5473.879.41767379
Malaysia76.4274.1178.96767478
Armenia76.2371.1680.36726777
Brazil76.1873.0779.26747177
Bosnia and Herzegovina76.1874.0578.3767478
Lebanon76.0773.9678.09787680
Latvia76.0671.6680.2757180
Turks and Caicos Islands76.0673.3279.04757278
Sint Maarten76.0273.1279.32787483
Montserrat76.0174.6577.71
United States Virgin Islands7670.7281.69807783
Cayman Islands75.7273.3978.29828085
Mauritius75.6972.7778.73747178
Grenada75.4972.7478.45757278
Tokelau75.4974.5176.35
Cook Islands75.3471.6479.19
North Macedonia75.2673.177.47767478
Serbia75.2172.378.02747177
Morocco75.273.1177.41747276
Romania75.1471.7378.6747178
Mexico75.0471.7678.36706674
Belarus75.0369.8179.98746979
Jordan75.0272.9177.46757378
Seychelles7571.3179.36777382
Trinidad and Tobago74.8771.4878.31747178
Nicaragua74.871.7977.74726975
Vietnam74.7470.1279.42757180
Belize74.6271.777.89737077
Russia74.5769.5279.29716676
Brunei74.5472.4976.78757377
Bahamas74.4970.8977.97736976
Dominican Republic74.3671.2477.72736977
Palestine74.2871.9176.67747277
Dominica74.270.9577.78777579
Saint Lucia74.1270.7477.68737077
Paraguay74.171.3776.96737076
Bangladesh73.9871.7876.31727074
Czech Republic73.7171.176.3787581
Azerbaijan73.6170.6776.39676371
Honduras73.4771.0376.02716974
El Salvador73.3868.8877.55716675
Libya73.2570.2376.54727075
Ukraine73.0267.7478.08716676
Mongolia72.9468.3677.62726877
Venezuela72.8968.7677.25716776
American Samoa72.8770.1275.7
Bulgaria72.8469.5576.37747078
Suriname72.7969.4276.25736976
Samoa72.7570.2875.5737075
Greenland72.7270.2376.09717073
Bhutan72.4970.874.45727074
Syria72.4568.8276.27726976
Georgia72.4367.5677.24736878
Jamaica72.3770.1474.6727074
Philippines72.370.374.32727074
Saint Kitts and Nevis72.1868.8175.82716974
Iraq72.0569.9274.03696771
India72.0370.5273.65706972
Uzbekistan71.7869.1274.43706873
Cambodia71.4669.0973.75706873
Tajikistan71.4369.373.69686670
Tonga71.4168.6874.28716874
Niue71.3369.5773.05
Micronesia71.3267.7275.18716775
Kyrgyzstan71.1666.8875.5726876
Indonesia71.168.9673.27696771
Solomon Islands70.8669.3872.51706972
Egypt70.8168.4873.22716973
Nepal70.7868.8772.68696771
Vanuatu70.6968.4873.27706972
Kazakhstan70.3666.5873.9716776
Guatemala70.1567.2673.09726876
Guyana69.866.3673.33686572
Turkmenistan69.5466.0373.07696572
Moldova69.5165.0574.21706675
Senegal69.3166.7171.75686670
Laos69.2767.1971.46686771
Sao Tome and Principe68.8966.1372.04686571
Bolivia68.7866.271.46646268
Fiji68.4566.5770.41686670
Kiribati67.8365.8869.59676569
Tanzania67.665.4669.8666469
Myanmar67.4664.3870.69676470
Rwanda67.3565.0269.49676469
Pakistan67.3465.0869.74666469
Eritrea67.3265.1769.4676569
Ethiopia66.6563.7369.75656368
Madagascar66.4364.1368.84656368
Gabon66.1663.8768.76676469
Papua New Guinea66.1263.5169.34666369
Sudan66.163.5768.7666368
Botswana66.0563.4568.56666368
Palau65.5462.3669.5696672
Mauritania65.4863.6467.33656366
Marshall Islands65.2863.6567.25656368
Tuvalu65.0561.3269.57646169
Comoros65.0462.9167.35646267
Haiti64.7561.8167.82646167
Ghana64.5362.3766.72646266
Yemen64.5261.2368.08656268
Afghanistan64.2361.267.44636065
Nauru64.1960.6768.01
Gambia64.1262.6265.63636164
Uganda63.8461.6765.92636165
Djibouti63.7161.2266.3636065
Malawi63.6760.2467.15646068
Kenya63.3460.9565.83636065
Republic of the Congo63.2661.6964.86646265
Angola63.2460.7265.77626065
Zambia62.9660.1965.66626065
Niger62.9361.6564.25616062
South Africa62.8959.8565.69656268
Burundi62.560.5464.45625964
Mozambique62.3759.4865.15615864
Liberia62.0460.7363.34616062
Equatorial Guinea61.9760.2364.01615963
Cameroon61.9260.3963.47615963
Zimbabwe61.9259.1864.32615864
Togo61.8261.1462.49616062
Sierra Leone60.7959.4662.11605861
DR Congo60.6358.5462.78605862
Burkina Faso60.5758.6762.39605862
Benin60.4558.7762.16605961
Ivory Coast60.1158.8661.46595860
Mali60.0358.761.41595760
Guinea59.5558.1860.83595860
Namibia59.5355.9863.13635967
Eswatini57.7153.9761.86605664
Somalia57.3555.3259.47565458
South Sudan56.5154.9957.97555457
Central African Republic55.4853.3857.68555357
Lesotho54.9152.1257.82555258
Nigeria53.8753.554.24535253
Chad53.6852.0155.41535154
North Korea838187
showing: 228 rows

Which country has the longest life expectancy?

Monaco has the longest life expectancy.

Where does the US rank in life expectancy?

The US is ranked 40th in life expectancy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources