Which country has the highest life expectancy?

Japan leads with a life expectancy of approximately 84.6 years.

How has life expectancy changed over the past century?

Life expectancy has roughly doubled since 1900, rising from about 35 years to over 73 years globally.

Did COVID-19 affect global life expectancy?

Yes, the pandemic caused a temporary decline in global life expectancy by about 0.8 years between 2019 and 2020.

What is the biggest factor in life expectancy differences between countries?

Healthcare infrastructure and access to clean water and sanitation are the most significant factors driving life expectancy differences.

Global Average Life Expectancy

Last updated: January 16, 2026

73.4 years

years

The global average life expectancy is approximately 73.4 years. This has risen dramatically over the past century thanks to advances in medicine, sanitation, and nutrition.

Historical Trend

Source: WHO

Global Average Life Expectancy by Country

Country	Value (years) ↓	Source
Japan	84.6	WHO
Singapore	83.9	DOS
Switzerland	83.8	WHO
South Korea	83.7	KOSIS
Australia	83.4	WHO
France	82.5	INSEE
Canada	82.4	StatCan
Netherlands	82	CBS
Germany	81.2	Destatis
United Kingdom	81.2	ONS
United Arab Emirates	78.7	WHO
China	78.2	WHO
United States	77.5	CDC
Saudi Arabia	76.9	WHO
Brazil	75.9	IBGE
Russia	73.4	Rosstat
India	70.8	WHO
Pakistan	67.3	WHO
South Africa	64.9	Stats SA
Nigeria	54.7	WHO

Why This Average Exists

Life expectancy is one of the most important indicators of overall population health and quality of life in a country.

Factors That Affect Global Average Life Expectancy

Healthcare quality
Sanitation infrastructure
Nutrition
Income levels
Disease prevalence
Conflict and instability

Frequently Asked Questions

Methodology & Data Sources

The data presented on this page is compiled from publicly available datasets published by international organizations including the World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations, NASA, and national statistical agencies.

Global averages are calculated using population-weighted or arithmetic means depending on the metric. Country-level data reflects the most recent available figures, typically from 2024–2024. Where gaps exist, the latest available data point is used.

All figures are subject to revision as source organizations update their datasets. For the most authoritative data, we encourage consulting the original sources linked in the table above.