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Life expectancy at birth

What this indicator measures

Number of years a newborn would live on average if the risks of death at each age stayed those observed in the year in question. Both sexes are counted together.

How to read this?

A value of 75 means a child born this year would live 75 years on average at current risks.

Ranking : ranked from highest to lowest

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213countries with data
86.5 yrsmaximum · Monaco
74.7 yrsmedian
54.6 yrsminimum · Nigeria
2024data year(s)

In brief

Life expectancy at birth: across 213 countries and territories, values range from 54.6 yrs (Nigeria) to 86.5 yrs (Monaco), with a world median of 74.7 yrs. Data: 2024. The top 10% of countries exceed 83 yrs, while the bottom 10% stay below 63.9 yrs. By continent, the median is highest in Europe (81.6 yrs) and lowest in Africa (65.7 yrs).

Median by continent

Lower Higher
  • Europe 81.6 yrs (46)
  • South America 76.8 yrs (12)
  • North America 75.8 yrs (34)
  • Asia 74.8 yrs (48)
  • Oceania 71.7 yrs (19)
  • Africa 65.7 yrs (51)

Why this indicator matters

Life expectancy sums up a country's health, living and care conditions in a single figure. It is one of the most widely used indicators for comparing human development.

What makes this indicator vary

It depends on child mortality, access to care, diet, hygiene, working conditions, tobacco and alcohol, conflicts and accidents.

Reading precautions

It is a theoretical value calculated from one year's death risks, not a prediction. It relies on UN estimates, which are less precise where civil registration is incomplete.

Full ranking

ranked from highest to lowest

RankCountryValueYear
1er🇲🇨 Monaco86.5 yrs2024
2e🇸🇲 San Marino85.8 yrs2024
3e🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR China85.4 yrs2024
4e🇰🇼 Kuwait84.6 yrs2024
5e🇨🇭 Switzerland84.4 yrs2024
6e🇱🇮 Liechtenstein84.2 yrs2024
7e🇵🇫 French Polynesia84.2 yrs2024
8e🇦🇩 Andorra84.2 yrs2024
9e🇸🇪 Sweden84.1 yrs2024
10e🇯🇵 Japan84 yrs2024
11e🇮🇹 Italy84 yrs2024
12e🇪🇸 Spain83.9 yrs2024
13e🇰🇷 South Korea83.6 yrs2024
14e🇸🇬 Singapore83.3 yrs2024
15e🇲🇴 Macao SAR China83.3 yrs2024
16e🇮🇱 Israel83.2 yrs2024
17e🇱🇺 Luxembourg83.2 yrs2024
18e🇳🇴 Norway83.2 yrs2024
19e🇫🇴 Faroe Islands83.1 yrs2024
20e🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates83.1 yrs2024
21e🇦🇺 Australia83.1 yrs2024
22e🇮🇪 Ireland83 yrs2024
23e🇫🇷 France83 yrs2024
24e🇲🇹 Malta83 yrs2024
25e🇮🇸 Iceland82.8 yrs2024
26e🇶🇦 Qatar82.5 yrs2024
27e🇧🇲 Bermuda82.5 yrs2024
28e🇵🇹 Portugal82.4 yrs2024
29e🇫🇮 Finland82.3 yrs2024
30e🇧🇪 Belgium82.3 yrs2024
31e🇸🇮 Slovenia82.3 yrs2024
32e🇩🇰 Denmark82.3 yrs2024
33e🇨🇦 Canada82.1 yrs2024
34e🇳🇿 New Zealand82 yrs2024
35e🇦🇹 Austria82 yrs2024
36e🇳🇱 Netherlands82 yrs2024
37e🇵🇷 Puerto Rico81.9 yrs2024
38e🇬🇷 Greece81.8 yrs2024
39e🇨🇾 Cyprus81.8 yrs2024
40e🇧🇭 Bahrain81.4 yrs2024
41e🇬🇧 United Kingdom81.4 yrs2024
42e🇨🇱 Chile81.4 yrs2024
43e🇲🇻 Maldives81.3 yrs2024
44e🇮🇲 Isle of Man81.1 yrs2024
45e🇨🇷 Costa Rica81 yrs2024
46e🇩🇪 Germany80.8 yrs2024
47e🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands80.8 yrs2024
48e🇰🇾 Cayman Islands80.5 yrs2024
49e🇲🇫 St. Martin80.4 yrs2024
50e🇴🇲 Oman80.2 yrs2024
51e🇨🇿 Czechia80 yrs2024
52e🇦🇱 Albania79.8 yrs2024
53e🇵🇦 Panama79.8 yrs2024
54e🇪🇪 Estonia79.3 yrs2024
55e🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia79 yrs2024
56e🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands78.9 yrs2024
57e🇭🇷 Croatia78.9 yrs2024
58e🇳🇨 New Caledonia78.9 yrs2024
59e🇺🇸 United States78.9 yrs2024
60e🇵🇱 Poland78.4 yrs2024
61e🇸🇰 Slovakia78.4 yrs2024
62e🇦🇲 Armenia78.3 yrs2024
63e🇺🇾 Uruguay78.3 yrs2024
64e🇨🇺 Cuba78.3 yrs2024
65e🇽🇰 Kosovo78.2 yrs2024
66e🇹🇨 Turks & Caicos Islands78.2 yrs2024
67e🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina78 yrs2024
68e🇨🇳 China78 yrs2024
69e🇯🇴 Jordan78 yrs2024
70e🇱🇧 Lebanon77.9 yrs2024
71e🇵🇪 Peru77.9 yrs2024
72e🇨🇴 Colombia77.9 yrs2024
73e🇲🇪 Montenegro77.9 yrs2024
74e🇮🇷 Iran77.9 yrs2024
75e🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda77.8 yrs2024
76e🇱🇰 Sri Lanka77.7 yrs2024
77e🇪🇨 Ecuador77.6 yrs2024
78e🇦🇷 Argentina77.5 yrs2024
79e🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands77.4 yrs2024
80e🇬🇺 Guam77.4 yrs2024
81e🇹🇷 Türkiye77.4 yrs2024
82e🇱🇹 Lithuania77.2 yrs2024
83e🇨🇼 Curaçao77 yrs2024
84e🇲🇾 Malaysia76.8 yrs2024
85e🇭🇺 Hungary76.7 yrs2024
86e🇹🇳 Tunisia76.7 yrs2024
87e🇲🇰 North Macedonia76.6 yrs2024
88e🇹🇭 Thailand76.6 yrs2024
89e🇸🇽 Sint Maarten76.5 yrs2024
90e🇦🇼 Aruba76.5 yrs2024
91e🇩🇿 Algeria76.5 yrs2024
92e🇷🇴 Romania76.5 yrs2024
93e🇱🇻 Latvia76.4 yrs2024
94e🇧🇧 Barbados76.3 yrs2024
95e🇸🇨 Seychelles76.3 yrs2024
96e🇨🇻 Cape Verde76.2 yrs2024
97e🇧🇷 Brazil76 yrs2024
98e🇷🇸 Serbia76 yrs2024
99e🇧🇬 Bulgaria75.8 yrs2024
100e🇧🇳 Brunei75.5 yrs2024
101e🇲🇦 Morocco75.5 yrs2024
102e🇬🇩 Grenada75.4 yrs2024
103e🇲🇽 Mexico75.3 yrs2024
104e🇳🇮 Nicaragua75.1 yrs2024
105e🇧🇩 Bangladesh74.9 yrs2024
106e🇻🇳 Vietnam74.7 yrs2024
107e🇧🇸 Bahamas74.7 yrs2024
108e🇺🇦 Ukraine74.7 yrs2024
109e🇬🇪 Georgia74.7 yrs2024
110e🇦🇿 Azerbaijan74.6 yrs2024
111e🇰🇿 Kazakhstan74.5 yrs2024
112e🇧🇾 Belarus74.4 yrs2024
113e🇵🇾 Paraguay74 yrs2024
114e🇩🇴 Dominican Republic73.9 yrs2024
115e🇲🇺 Mauritius73.8 yrs2024
116e🇸🇷 Suriname73.8 yrs2024
117e🇰🇵 North Korea73.7 yrs2024
118e🇧🇿 Belize73.7 yrs2024
119e🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago73.6 yrs2024
120e🇷🇺 Russia73.4 yrs2024
121e🇧🇹 Bhutan73.3 yrs2024
122e🇹🇴 Tonga73.1 yrs2024
123e🇭🇳 Honduras73 yrs2024
124e🇦🇸 American Samoa73 yrs2024
125e🇱🇨 St. Lucia72.8 yrs2024
126e🇬🇹 Guatemala72.7 yrs2024
127e🇻🇪 Venezuela72.7 yrs2024
128e🇸🇾 Syria72.6 yrs2024
129e🇺🇿 Uzbekistan72.5 yrs2024
130e🇮🇶 Iraq72.4 yrs2024
131e🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan72.4 yrs2024
132e🇲🇳 Mongolia72.4 yrs2024
133e🇸🇻 El Salvador72.3 yrs2024
134e🇰🇳 St. Kitts & Nevis72.3 yrs2024
135e🇮🇳 India72.2 yrs2024
136e🇹🇯 Tajikistan71.9 yrs2024
137e🇼🇸 Samoa71.8 yrs2024
138e🇪🇬 Egypt71.8 yrs2024
139e🇻🇺 Vanuatu71.7 yrs2024
140e🇯🇲 Jamaica71.6 yrs2024
141e🇻🇨 St. Vincent & Grenadines71.4 yrs2024
142e🇲🇩 Moldova71.3 yrs2024
143e🇩🇲 Dominica71.3 yrs2024
144e🇮🇩 Indonesia71.3 yrs2024
145e🇱🇾 Libya71.1 yrs2024
146e🇰🇭 Cambodia70.8 yrs2024
147e🇸🇧 Solomon Islands70.7 yrs2024
148e🇳🇵 Nepal70.6 yrs2024
149e🇬🇾 Guyana70.3 yrs2024
150e🇬🇱 Greenland70.3 yrs2024
151e🇹🇲 Turkmenistan70.2 yrs2024
152e🇵🇭 Philippines69.9 yrs2024
153e🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe69.9 yrs2024
154e🇾🇪 Yemen69.4 yrs2024
155e🇵🇼 Palau69.4 yrs2024
156e🇧🇼 Botswana69.3 yrs2024
157e🇱🇦 Laos69.2 yrs2024
158e🇸🇳 Senegal68.9 yrs2024
159e🇪🇷 Eritrea68.9 yrs2024
160e🇧🇴 Bolivia68.7 yrs2024
161e🇲🇷 Mauritania68.7 yrs2024
162e🇬🇦 Gabon68.5 yrs2024
163e🇺🇬 Uganda68.5 yrs2024
164e🇷🇼 Rwanda68 yrs2024
165e🇹🇱 Timor-Leste67.9 yrs2024
166e🇵🇰 Pakistan67.8 yrs2024
167e🇪🇹 Ethiopia67.6 yrs2024
168e🇲🇼 Malawi67.6 yrs2024
169e🇳🇦 Namibia67.5 yrs2024
170e🇫🇯 Fiji67.5 yrs2024
171e🇫🇲 Micronesia67.4 yrs2024
172e🇹🇻 Tuvalu67.3 yrs2024
173e🇹🇿 Tanzania67.2 yrs2024
174e🇲🇲 Myanmar (Burma)67.1 yrs2024
175e🇲🇭 Marshall Islands67.1 yrs2024
176e🇰🇲 Comoros67 yrs2024
177e🇰🇮 Kiribati66.6 yrs2024
178e🇿🇲 Zambia66.5 yrs2024
179e🇸🇩 Sudan66.5 yrs2024
180e🇿🇦 South Africa66.3 yrs2024
181e🇦🇫 Afghanistan66.3 yrs2024
182e🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea66.3 yrs2024
183e🇩🇯 Djibouti66.2 yrs2024
184e🇬🇲 Gambia66.1 yrs2024
185e🇨🇬 Congo - Brazzaville66 yrs2024
186e🇬🇭 Ghana65.7 yrs2024
187e🇭🇹 Haiti65.1 yrs2024
188e🇦🇴 Angola64.8 yrs2024
189e🇸🇿 Eswatini64.3 yrs2024
190e🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau64.3 yrs2024
191e🇨🇲 Cameroon64 yrs2024
192e🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea63.9 yrs2024
193e🇲🇬 Madagascar63.8 yrs2024
194e🇰🇪 Kenya63.8 yrs2024
195e🇧🇮 Burundi63.8 yrs2024
196e🇲🇿 Mozambique63.8 yrs2024
197e🇿🇼 Zimbabwe63.1 yrs2024
198e🇹🇬 Togo62.9 yrs2024
199e🇱🇷 Liberia62.3 yrs2024
200e🇳🇷 Nauru62.3 yrs2024
201e🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire62.1 yrs2024
202e🇨🇩 Congo - Kinshasa62.1 yrs2024
203e🇸🇱 Sierra Leone62 yrs2024
204e🇳🇪 Niger61.4 yrs2024
205e🇧🇫 Burkina Faso61.3 yrs2024
206e🇧🇯 Benin61 yrs2024
207e🇬🇳 Guinea60.9 yrs2024
208e🇲🇱 Mali60.7 yrs2024
209e🇸🇴 Somalia59 yrs2024
210e🇱🇸 Lesotho57.8 yrs2024
211e🇨🇫 Central African Republic57.7 yrs2024
212e🇹🇩 Chad55.2 yrs2024
213e🇳🇬 Nigeria54.6 yrs2024

Frequently asked questions

Which country has the highest value for "Life expectancy at birth"?

The highest value is in Monaco, at 86.5 yrs (2024).

Which country has the lowest value for "Life expectancy at birth"?

The lowest value is in Nigeria, at 54.6 yrs (2024).

What is the world median value of "Life expectancy at birth"?

The world median is 74.7 yrs, calculated across 213 countries: half of the countries are above it, the other half below.

What is the value of "Life expectancy at birth" for France?

France scores 83 yrs (2024), ranking 23 out of 213 countries (ranked from highest to lowest).

Where does the "Life expectancy at birth" data come from?

It comes from Banque mondiale (WDI), d'après Nations unies – World Population Prospects. Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.

What does life expectancy at birth measure?

It is the number of years a newborn would live on average if the risks of death at each age stayed those of the year observed.

Does this mean everyone will live to that age?

No. It is an average: some will live less, others more. It can also change as health improves.

Source and update

Source : Banque mondiale (WDI), d'après Nations unies – World Population Prospects. Site last updated: November 8, 2026.

Indicators in the same category : Births, deaths and life expectancy