The average lifespan of a person varies by location.
From Europe’s Monaco, which ranks first globally, to African countries with life expectancy under 60 years.
The rankings reveal a stark global divide. They also show how well or poorly people are living.
Let’s explore the latest data on the top countries.
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TL;DR
- Monaco has the highest life expectancy, at 86.5 years for both genders, meaning the average person there is expected to live approximately 86 years.
- Poverty and diseases keep Nigeria with the lowest life expectancy of 54.6 years, followed by Chad’s 55.2 years.
The data for this explainer is from the United Nations World Population Prospects: 2024.
Top Countries with the Highest Life Expectancy
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Rank | Country | Life Expectancy (Years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | 1 | Monaco | 86.5 |
| 2 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | 2 | San Marino | 85.8 |
| 3 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | 3 | Hong Kong | 85.6 |
| 4 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | 4 | Japan | 84.8 |
| 5 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | 5 | South Korea | 84.4 |
| 6 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | 6 | Andorra | 84.2 |
| 7 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | 7 | Australia | 84.1 |
| 8 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | 8 | Switzerland | 84.1 |
| 9 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | 9 | Italy | 83.9 |
| 10 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:10 AM | 10 | Singapore | 83.9 |
With a global average of 73.3 years, the life expectancy rankings reveal a nearly 32-year gap between the top-ranking countries and the bottom performers in Africa.
Monaco has a life expectancy of 86.5 years, ranking first in the world, thanks to its excellent healthcare and diet. Hong Kong (85.6), Japan (84.8), and South Korea (84.4) also score high due to good nutrition and social support.
In Europe, countries like Switzerland (84.1) and Italy (83.9) benefit from universal healthcare, though diseases caused by lifestyle (smoking, drinking, promiscuity) are a concern.
Top Countries with the Lowest Life Expectancy
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Rank | Country | Life Expectancy (Years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | 1 | Nigeria | 54.6 |
| 2 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | 2 | Chad | 55.2 |
| 3 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | 3 | Central African Republic | 57.7 |
| 4 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | 4 | South Sudan | 57.7 |
| 5 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | 5 | Lesotho | 57.8 |
| 6 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | 6 | Somalia | 59.0 |
| 7 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | 7 | Mali | 60.7 |
| 8 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | 8 | Guinea | 60.9 |
| 9 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | 9 | Benin | 61.0 |
| 10 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 20/07/2026 10:17 AM | 10 | Burkina Faso | 61.3 |
Nigeria has the world’s lowest life expectancy, at 54.6 years, due to poor healthcare, disease, and insecurity.
Some other sub-Saharan countries, such as Chad (55.2) and South Sudan (57.7), face similar struggles with conflict and hunger.
These UN projections indicate that poverty and instability are significantly reducing life expectancies.
However, a World Health Organization survey suggests a 10.3-year increase in life expectancy in certain parts of Africa between 2000 and 2019.
Regional Patterns: A Mixed Picture or A Closer Look at Regional Trends
Given that life expectancy varies significantly worldwide, Africa is at higher risk, as most countries have life expectancy below 65 years.
In contrast, Europe is doing much better. Twenty-nine countries exceed 80 years, and Monaco leads at an impressive 86.5 years.
Asia is a mix, with highs in Hong Kong at 85.6 years and Japan at 84.8 years. However, poorer countries in the region continue to struggle.
In the Americas, Canada has the highest life expectancy at 82.7 years, while Haiti ranks lowest at 65.1 years.
ELI5: Life Expectancy Around the World
Life expectancy simply indicates the average number of years an individual would live.
In places like Monaco, people live to 86 because they eat well and have access to excellent doctors.
However, the average Nigerian does not live beyond 55 years because they face problems such as inadequate food, limited access to medicine, and security issues. This doesn’t mean that a large number of people in these parts of the world don’t live long. It’s an average metric.
Sources:
UN World Population Prospects | World Bank | World Population Review
