Life expectancy by country 2026: the full ranking
Monaco has the highest life expectancy at birth in 2026: 86.7 years, according to UN World Population Prospects 2024 projections. The world average is 73.8 years (women 76.4, men 71.2), so women outlive men by 5.3 years worldwide. Among countries and areas with at least 1 million people, Hong Kong SAR leads with 85.9 years. Nigeria has the lowest figure, 55.0 years.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024, medium-variant projection for 2026 (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Period life expectancy at birth, in years.
Life expectancy at birth in 237 countries and areas (2026)
Ranked by the both-sexes value. “Gap” is women minus men. The last column is the UN estimate for 2023, the most recent year not projected. The World row shows where the global average falls. “Healthy years” is WHO healthy life expectancy at birth for 2023 (see below); “–” means WHO does not publish a figure for that area. Download the data (CSV).
Find your country: every row has its own link, made from the country's three-letter ISO code, for example #DEU for Germany or #MEX for Mexico. Add it to the page address to share or cite one country's row.
| Rank | Country or area | Both sexes | Women | Men | Gap | 2023 est. | Healthy years 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monaco | 86.7 | 88.8 | 84.8 | +4.1 | 86.4 | – |
| 2 | San Marino | 86.0 | 87.4 | 84.5 | +2.9 | 85.7 | – |
| 3 | Hong Kong SAR | 85.9 | 88.5 | 83.2 | +5.3 | 85.5 | – |
| 4 | Japan | 85.1 | 88.2 | 82.1 | +6.1 | 84.7 | 72.2 |
| 5 | South Korea | 84.6 | 87.5 | 81.6 | +6.0 | 84.3 | 72.0 |
| 6 | Saint Barthélemy | 84.6 | 87.1 | 81.8 | +5.3 | 84.3 | – |
| 7 | Andorra | 84.5 | 86.5 | 82.6 | +3.9 | 84.0 | – |
| 8 | French Polynesia | 84.4 | 86.9 | 82.2 | +4.7 | 84.1 | – |
| 9 | Switzerland | 84.4 | 86.2 | 82.5 | +3.7 | 84.0 | 71.2 |
| 10 | Australia | 84.3 | 86.1 | 82.6 | +3.5 | 83.9 | 69.5 |
| 11 | Italy | 84.2 | 86.1 | 82.1 | +4.0 | 83.7 | 71.2 |
| 12 | Singapore | 84.1 | 86.6 | 81.7 | +4.9 | 83.7 | 72.9 |
| 13 | Spain | 84.1 | 86.7 | 81.4 | +5.3 | 83.7 | 71.2 |
| 14 | Liechtenstein | 84.1 | 85.6 | 82.4 | +3.2 | 83.6 | – |
| 15 | Réunion | 83.9 | 86.7 | 80.9 | +5.7 | 83.5 | – |
| 16 | Gibraltar | 83.9 | 86.4 | 81.3 | +5.1 | 83.6 | – |
| 17 | Malta | 83.8 | 85.6 | 81.9 | +3.8 | 83.3 | 70.8 |
| 18 | Norway | 83.8 | 85.2 | 82.3 | +2.9 | 83.3 | 70.4 |
| 19 | Sweden | 83.7 | 85.5 | 82.0 | +3.4 | 83.3 | 70.6 |
| 20 | France | 83.7 | 86.4 | 80.9 | +5.6 | 83.3 | 70.0 |
| 21 | Guernsey | 83.7 | 85.9 | 81.5 | +4.4 | 83.3 | – |
| 22 | Macao SAR | 83.6 | 85.6 | 81.5 | +4.2 | 83.1 | – |
| 23 | Holy See | 83.4 | 85.4 | 81.3 | +4.1 | 83.0 | – |
| 24 | United Arab Emirates | 83.4 | 84.6 | 82.6 | +2.0 | 82.9 | 70.2 |
| 25 | Iceland | 83.3 | 84.7 | 82.0 | +2.7 | 82.7 | 69.8 |
| 26 | Canada | 83.1 | 85.2 | 80.9 | +4.2 | 82.6 | 67.9 |
| 27 | Martinique | 83.0 | 86.0 | 79.8 | +6.1 | 82.6 | – |
| 28 | Ireland | 82.9 | 84.9 | 81.0 | +3.9 | 82.4 | 70.2 |
| 29 | Israel | 82.9 | 84.9 | 80.8 | +4.1 | 82.4 | 71.0 |
| 30 | Portugal | 82.9 | 85.5 | 80.1 | +5.4 | 82.4 | 69.8 |
| 31 | Qatar | 82.8 | 83.7 | 82.1 | +1.6 | 82.4 | 69.3 |
| 32 | Bermuda | 82.8 | 86.1 | 79.4 | +6.7 | 82.3 | – |
| 33 | Luxembourg | 82.6 | 84.2 | 81.1 | +3.1 | 82.2 | 71.4 |
| 34 | Netherlands | 82.6 | 84.1 | 81.1 | +3.0 | 82.2 | 68.8 |
| 35 | Belgium | 82.6 | 84.7 | 80.5 | +4.2 | 82.1 | 69.9 |
| 36 | Guadeloupe | 82.6 | 85.9 | 78.7 | +7.1 | 82.1 | – |
| 37 | New Zealand | 82.5 | 84.1 | 80.9 | +3.2 | 82.1 | 68.0 |
| 38 | Austria | 82.5 | 84.7 | 80.2 | +4.5 | 82.0 | 69.9 |
| 39 | Finland | 82.4 | 85.0 | 79.8 | +5.2 | 81.9 | 69.4 |
| 40 | Greece | 82.4 | 84.7 | 79.9 | +4.8 | 81.9 | 69.8 |
| 41 | Denmark | 82.4 | 84.2 | 80.6 | +3.6 | 81.9 | 70.3 |
| 42 | Puerto Rico | 82.3 | 85.6 | 78.7 | +6.9 | 81.7 | 67.5 |
| 43 | Cyprus | 82.2 | 84.1 | 80.2 | +3.8 | 81.6 | 70.3 |
| 44 | Slovenia | 82.1 | 84.7 | 79.5 | +5.2 | 81.6 | 69.2 |
| 45 | Germany | 81.9 | 84.1 | 79.6 | +4.5 | 81.4 | 69.1 |
| 46 | United Kingdom | 81.7 | 83.6 | 79.9 | +3.7 | 81.3 | 68.2 |
| 47 | Bahrain | 81.7 | 82.4 | 81.2 | +1.2 | 81.3 | 68.7 |
| 48 | Maldives | 81.7 | 83.3 | 80.4 | +2.9 | 81.0 | 69.6 |
| 49 | Chile | 81.7 | 83.5 | 79.9 | +3.6 | 81.2 | 69.0 |
| 50 | Isle of Man | 81.4 | 83.4 | 79.4 | +4.0 | 81.0 | – |
| 51 | Costa Rica | 81.4 | 83.9 | 78.8 | +5.0 | 80.8 | 67.1 |
| 52 | China, Taiwan Province of China | 81.1 | 84.0 | 78.3 | +5.7 | 80.6 | – |
| 53 | Kuwait | 81.0 | 82.3 | 79.8 | +2.5 | 80.4 | 69.5 |
| 54 | Cayman Islands | 80.9 | 83.3 | 78.6 | +4.7 | 80.4 | – |
| 55 | Saint Martin (French part) | 80.8 | 84.2 | 77.4 | +6.8 | 80.2 | – |
| 56 | Faroe Islands | 80.8 | 83.0 | 78.9 | +4.1 | 80.2 | – |
| 57 | Oman | 80.7 | 82.4 | 79.2 | +3.2 | 80.0 | 68.2 |
| 58 | Czechia | 80.3 | 83.0 | 77.5 | +5.4 | 79.8 | 68.0 |
| 59 | Panama | 80.1 | 83.0 | 77.3 | +5.7 | 79.6 | 67.3 |
| 60 | Jersey | 80.1 | 82.1 | 78.2 | +4.0 | 79.7 | – |
| 61 | Albania | 80.1 | 81.9 | 78.3 | +3.6 | 79.6 | 68.3 |
| 62 | Anguilla | 79.9 | 83.1 | 76.7 | +6.4 | 79.3 | – |
| 63 | Falkland Islands (Malvinas) | 79.8 | 81.7 | 77.8 | +3.9 | 79.2 | – |
| 64 | United States | 79.8 | 82.2 | 77.4 | +4.8 | 79.3 | 64.6 |
| 65 | Estonia | 79.6 | 83.4 | 75.6 | +7.8 | 79.2 | 67.8 |
| 66 | Saudi Arabia | 79.4 | 81.7 | 77.8 | +3.9 | 78.7 | 66.5 |
| 67 | New Caledonia | 79.2 | 81.7 | 76.8 | +4.8 | 78.8 | – |
| 68 | Northern Mariana Islands | 79.2 | 81.1 | 77.6 | +3.5 | 78.8 | – |
| 69 | Poland | 79.2 | 82.7 | 75.5 | +7.2 | 78.6 | 66.9 |
| 70 | Croatia | 79.1 | 82.1 | 76.0 | +6.1 | 78.6 | 67.3 |
| 71 | Wallis and Futuna Islands | 79.0 | 80.0 | 78.1 | +2.0 | 78.6 | – |
| 72 | China | 79.0 | 81.8 | 76.4 | +5.4 | 78.0 | 68.0 |
| 73 | Slovakia | 78.8 | 82.0 | 75.6 | +6.4 | 78.3 | 67.1 |
| 74 | Cuba | 78.6 | 81.0 | 76.3 | +4.7 | 78.1 | 66.2 |
| 75 | Uruguay | 78.6 | 82.3 | 74.8 | +7.5 | 78.1 | 66.2 |
| 76 | Kosovo (under UNSC res. 1244) | 78.6 | 80.6 | 76.4 | +4.2 | 78.0 | – |
| 77 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 78.5 | 80.7 | 76.4 | +4.4 | 78.0 | – |
| 78 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 78.4 | 81.4 | 75.1 | +6.3 | 77.9 | 67.2 |
| 79 | Türkiye | 78.4 | 81.3 | 75.5 | +5.8 | 77.2 | 65.1 |
| 80 | Jordan | 78.3 | 80.6 | 76.2 | +4.4 | 77.8 | 68.6 |
| 81 | Peru | 78.3 | 80.6 | 76.0 | +4.6 | 77.7 | 67.1 |
| 82 | Colombia | 78.3 | 80.9 | 75.6 | +5.4 | 77.7 | 66.7 |
| 83 | Iran | 78.2 | 80.2 | 76.4 | +3.7 | 77.7 | 65.6 |
| 84 | Lebanon | 78.2 | 80.1 | 76.2 | +3.9 | 77.8 | 66.0 |
| 85 | Antigua and Barbuda | 78.1 | 80.7 | 75.1 | +5.6 | 77.6 | 66.7 |
| 86 | Sri Lanka | 78.0 | 81.0 | 74.9 | +6.2 | 77.5 | 66.6 |
| 87 | Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba | 78.0 | 80.6 | 75.8 | +4.9 | 77.4 | – |
| 88 | Ecuador | 77.9 | 80.6 | 75.3 | +5.3 | 77.4 | 66.5 |
| 89 | Argentina | 77.8 | 80.3 | 75.3 | +5.0 | 77.4 | 66.4 |
| 90 | North Macedonia | 77.8 | 80.0 | 75.6 | +4.4 | 77.4 | 66.5 |
| 91 | Guam | 77.8 | 81.9 | 74.1 | +7.8 | 77.2 | – |
| 92 | British Virgin Islands | 77.8 | 80.5 | 75.0 | +5.4 | 77.3 | – |
| 93 | Montenegro | 77.6 | 80.7 | 74.3 | +6.4 | 77.1 | 65.0 |
| 94 | French Guiana | 77.5 | 80.4 | 74.7 | +5.7 | 77.0 | – |
| 95 | Hungary | 77.5 | 80.6 | 74.3 | +6.3 | 77.0 | 66.0 |
| 96 | State of Palestine | 77.4 | 79.8 | 75.0 | +4.8 | 65.2 | 54.3 |
| 97 | Tokelau | 77.4 | 79.3 | 75.3 | +3.9 | 77.1 | – |
| 98 | Curaçao | 77.3 | 81.2 | 73.1 | +8.2 | 76.8 | – |
| 99 | Serbia | 77.3 | 80.5 | 74.1 | +6.4 | 76.8 | 66.0 |
| 100 | Saint Helena | 77.3 | 81.0 | 74.4 | +6.6 | 76.8 | – |
| 101 | Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 77.3 | 81.9 | 73.3 | +8.5 | 76.8 | – |
| 102 | Malaysia | 77.2 | 79.8 | 74.8 | +5.0 | 76.7 | 65.5 |
| 103 | Tunisia | 77.1 | 79.7 | 74.6 | +5.1 | 76.5 | 66.2 |
| 104 | Thailand | 77.1 | 81.4 | 72.9 | +8.4 | 76.4 | 67.8 |
| 105 | Algeria | 76.9 | 78.3 | 75.5 | +2.8 | 76.3 | 66.5 |
| 106 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 76.9 | 79.9 | 74.2 | +5.8 | 76.4 | – |
| 107 | Aruba | 76.8 | 79.2 | 74.1 | +5.1 | 76.4 | – |
| 108 | Montserrat | 76.7 | 79.2 | 74.6 | +4.7 | 76.2 | – |
| 109 | Barbados | 76.6 | 79.0 | 74.1 | +5.0 | 76.2 | 67.4 |
| 110 | Latvia | 76.6 | 80.9 | 72.1 | +8.7 | 76.2 | 65.2 |
| 111 | Mayotte | 76.6 | 78.9 | 74.6 | +4.2 | 76.1 | – |
| 112 | Cabo Verde | 76.6 | 79.7 | 73.4 | +6.2 | 76.1 | 65.9 |
| 113 | Lithuania | 76.5 | 81.1 | 71.8 | +9.2 | 76.0 | 66.1 |
| 114 | Romania | 76.4 | 79.9 | 72.9 | +7.0 | 75.9 | 66.0 |
| 115 | Brazil | 76.4 | 79.5 | 73.3 | +6.1 | 75.8 | 63.8 |
| 116 | Armenia | 76.2 | 79.9 | 72.0 | +7.9 | 75.7 | 66.4 |
| 117 | United States Virgin Islands | 76.2 | 81.7 | 71.2 | +10.6 | 75.5 | – |
| 118 | Bulgaria | 76.1 | 79.7 | 72.7 | +7.0 | 75.6 | 65.4 |
| 119 | Morocco | 75.9 | 78.1 | 73.7 | +4.4 | 75.3 | 64.6 |
| 120 | Cook Islands | 75.8 | 79.5 | 72.4 | +7.0 | 75.3 | – |
| 121 | Brunei Darussalam | 75.8 | 78.1 | 73.8 | +4.3 | 75.3 | 66.7 |
| 122 | Grenada | 75.7 | 78.8 | 72.8 | +5.9 | 75.2 | 62.7 |
| 123 | Mexico | 75.6 | 78.4 | 72.8 | +5.5 | 75.1 | 63.1 |
| 124 | Bangladesh | 75.5 | 77.2 | 73.8 | +3.4 | 74.7 | 62.4 |
| 125 | Mauritius | 75.4 | 78.6 | 72.5 | +6.2 | 74.9 | 63.6 |
| 126 | Nicaragua | 75.4 | 77.9 | 72.8 | +5.1 | 74.9 | 65.4 |
| 127 | Libya | 75.2 | 77.8 | 72.7 | +5.1 | 69.3 | 58.9 |
| 128 | Viet Nam | 75.0 | 79.6 | 70.4 | +9.2 | 74.6 | 65.5 |
| 129 | Ukraine | 75.0 | 79.7 | 70.2 | +9.5 | 73.4 | 61.6 |
| 130 | Bahamas | 75.0 | 78.6 | 71.4 | +7.2 | 74.6 | 63.8 |
| 131 | Georgia | 75.0 | 79.5 | 70.1 | +9.4 | 74.5 | 64.6 |
| 132 | Belarus | 75.0 | 79.5 | 70.1 | +9.4 | 74.4 | 64.6 |
| 133 | Azerbaijan | 74.9 | 77.6 | 72.0 | +5.6 | 74.4 | 65.2 |
| 134 | Kazakhstan | 74.8 | 78.8 | 70.6 | +8.2 | 74.4 | 64.6 |
| 135 | Paraguay | 74.2 | 77.4 | 71.3 | +6.1 | 73.8 | 62.5 |
| 136 | Dominican Republic | 74.1 | 77.4 | 70.9 | +6.4 | 73.7 | 64.0 |
| 137 | Belize | 74.1 | 77.0 | 71.4 | +5.6 | 73.6 | 61.7 |
| 138 | Suriname | 74.0 | 77.3 | 70.9 | +6.4 | 73.6 | 61.2 |
| 139 | North Korea | 74.0 | 76.2 | 71.8 | +4.4 | 73.6 | 63.0 |
| 140 | Trinidad and Tobago | 73.9 | 77.1 | 70.8 | +6.3 | 73.5 | 59.8 |
| 141 | Bhutan | 73.8 | 75.8 | 72.1 | +3.8 | 73.0 | 65.0 |
| — | World | 73.8 | 76.4 | 71.2 | +5.3 | 73.2 | 62.8 |
| 142 | Russia | 73.7 | 79.5 | 67.9 | +11.6 | 73.2 | 62.2 |
| 143 | Syria | 73.4 | 75.9 | 71.0 | +5.0 | 72.1 | 61.3 |
| 144 | Tonga | 73.4 | 76.8 | 69.8 | +7.0 | 72.9 | 63.3 |
| 145 | Honduras | 73.4 | 76.0 | 70.8 | +5.2 | 72.9 | 61.9 |
| 146 | Seychelles | 73.3 | 77.0 | 70.4 | +6.6 | 72.9 | 66.1 |
| 147 | American Samoa | 73.3 | 76.3 | 70.5 | +5.7 | 72.9 | – |
| 148 | Saint Lucia | 73.2 | 76.7 | 69.7 | +7.0 | 72.7 | 61.9 |
| 149 | Guatemala | 73.0 | 75.4 | 70.7 | +4.7 | 72.6 | 60.5 |
| 150 | Venezuela | 73.0 | 77.0 | 69.2 | +7.8 | 72.5 | 61.8 |
| 151 | Uzbekistan | 72.8 | 75.8 | 69.8 | +6.0 | 72.4 | 64.6 |
| 152 | El Salvador | 72.7 | 76.9 | 68.2 | +8.7 | 72.1 | 62.7 |
| 153 | India | 72.7 | 74.4 | 71.2 | +3.2 | 72.0 | 60.6 |
| 154 | Iraq | 72.6 | 74.4 | 70.7 | +3.8 | 72.3 | 62.4 |
| 155 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 72.6 | 76.4 | 69.0 | +7.5 | 72.1 | – |
| 156 | Mongolia | 72.5 | 77.1 | 68.0 | +9.1 | 71.7 | 64.1 |
| 157 | Tajikistan | 72.2 | 74.5 | 69.9 | +4.6 | 71.8 | 64.6 |
| 158 | Egypt | 72.2 | 74.4 | 70.0 | +4.4 | 71.6 | 61.6 |
| 159 | Kyrgyzstan | 72.1 | 75.7 | 68.6 | +7.1 | 71.7 | 65.1 |
| 160 | Samoa | 72.1 | 74.1 | 70.2 | +4.0 | 71.7 | 63.8 |
| 161 | Vanuatu | 72.0 | 74.5 | 69.9 | +4.6 | 71.5 | 59.1 |
| 162 | Western Sahara | 72.0 | 74.2 | 70.2 | +4.0 | 71.4 | – |
| 163 | Jamaica | 71.9 | 74.4 | 69.3 | +5.2 | 71.5 | 62.7 |
| 164 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 71.7 | 74.8 | 69.0 | +5.8 | 71.2 | 61.4 |
| 165 | Dominica | 71.6 | 75.1 | 68.6 | +6.4 | 71.1 | – |
| 166 | Moldova | 71.6 | 75.9 | 67.0 | +9.0 | 71.2 | 62.3 |
| 167 | Indonesia | 71.6 | 73.8 | 69.4 | +4.4 | 71.1 | 63.7 |
| 168 | Nepal | 71.2 | 72.7 | 69.6 | +3.1 | 70.4 | 62.1 |
| 169 | Cambodia | 71.1 | 73.7 | 68.4 | +5.3 | 70.7 | 62.3 |
| 170 | Solomon Islands | 71.0 | 72.5 | 69.6 | +2.9 | 70.5 | 57.4 |
| 171 | Guyana | 70.6 | 74.4 | 66.8 | +7.5 | 70.2 | 52.6 |
| 172 | Turkmenistan | 70.5 | 73.3 | 67.2 | +6.1 | 70.1 | 60.5 |
| 173 | Greenland | 70.4 | 72.9 | 68.4 | +4.5 | 70.1 | – |
| 174 | Niue | 70.4 | 73.2 | 67.8 | +5.4 | 70.0 | – |
| 175 | Sao Tome and Principe | 70.3 | 74.3 | 66.7 | +7.5 | 69.7 | 63.3 |
| 176 | Philippines | 70.2 | 73.2 | 67.2 | +6.0 | 69.8 | 62.0 |
| 177 | Yemen | 69.7 | 71.9 | 67.6 | +4.2 | 69.3 | 57.9 |
| 178 | Laos | 69.7 | 72.0 | 67.5 | +4.6 | 69.0 | 61.8 |
| 179 | Palau | 69.6 | 72.2 | 67.4 | +4.8 | 69.3 | – |
| 180 | Botswana | 69.6 | 72.2 | 67.0 | +5.1 | 69.2 | 58.1 |
| 181 | Eritrea | 69.4 | 71.5 | 67.2 | +4.2 | 68.6 | 56.4 |
| 182 | Senegal | 69.4 | 71.5 | 67.4 | +4.1 | 68.7 | 59.4 |
| 183 | Mauritania | 69.2 | 71.2 | 67.1 | +4.1 | 68.5 | 61.4 |
| 184 | Bolivia | 69.1 | 71.7 | 66.6 | +5.1 | 68.6 | 62.8 |
| 185 | Uganda | 68.9 | 71.8 | 65.9 | +5.9 | 68.3 | 58.1 |
| 186 | Gabon | 68.9 | 71.6 | 66.4 | +5.2 | 68.3 | 57.7 |
| 187 | Rwanda | 68.5 | 70.6 | 66.1 | +4.5 | 67.8 | 60.0 |
| 188 | Timor-Leste | 68.3 | 70.1 | 66.7 | +3.5 | 67.7 | 60.8 |
| 189 | Ethiopia | 68.1 | 71.6 | 64.9 | +6.7 | 67.3 | 59.6 |
| 190 | Pakistan | 68.1 | 70.6 | 65.7 | +4.9 | 67.6 | 58.4 |
| 191 | Malawi | 67.9 | 71.1 | 64.6 | +6.5 | 67.4 | 56.0 |
| 192 | Namibia | 67.8 | 71.8 | 63.7 | +8.0 | 67.4 | 56.9 |
| 193 | Fiji | 67.8 | 69.9 | 65.7 | +4.2 | 67.3 | 59.3 |
| 194 | Micronesia (Fed. States of) | 67.7 | 71.6 | 63.9 | +7.7 | 67.2 | 57.5 |
| 195 | Tanzania | 67.6 | 70.4 | 64.8 | +5.7 | 67.0 | 59.2 |
| 196 | Tuvalu | 67.6 | 71.2 | 64.2 | +7.0 | 67.1 | – |
| 197 | Myanmar | 67.5 | 70.8 | 64.4 | +6.4 | 66.9 | 60.6 |
| 198 | Comoros | 67.5 | 69.7 | 65.4 | +4.3 | 66.8 | 60.7 |
| 199 | Marshall Islands | 67.3 | 69.8 | 65.2 | +4.5 | 66.9 | – |
| 200 | Sudan | 66.9 | 70.2 | 63.8 | +6.4 | 66.3 | 57.8 |
| 201 | Zambia | 66.9 | 69.3 | 64.4 | +4.9 | 66.3 | 56.2 |
| 202 | Kiribati | 66.9 | 68.6 | 64.9 | +3.7 | 66.5 | 54.5 |
| 203 | Afghanistan | 66.8 | 68.3 | 65.2 | +3.2 | 66.0 | 53.3 |
| 204 | South Africa | 66.7 | 70.2 | 63.1 | +7.0 | 66.1 | 56.2 |
| 205 | Djibouti | 66.6 | 69.2 | 64.1 | +5.1 | 66.0 | 58.4 |
| 206 | Papua New Guinea | 66.5 | 69.5 | 64.0 | +5.4 | 66.1 | 59.0 |
| 207 | Gambia | 66.5 | 68.2 | 64.7 | +3.5 | 65.9 | 57.6 |
| 208 | Congo | 66.4 | 68.2 | 64.7 | +3.5 | 65.8 | 55.9 |
| 209 | Ghana | 66.1 | 68.6 | 63.7 | +4.9 | 65.5 | 58.7 |
| 210 | Haiti | 65.5 | 68.8 | 62.2 | +6.6 | 64.9 | 55.2 |
| 211 | Angola | 65.2 | 67.7 | 62.6 | +5.1 | 64.6 | 55.7 |
| 212 | Guinea-Bissau | 64.6 | 66.9 | 62.1 | +4.8 | 64.1 | 52.8 |
| 213 | Eswatini | 64.5 | 67.4 | 61.6 | +5.8 | 64.1 | 51.1 |
| 214 | Cameroon | 64.5 | 66.8 | 62.3 | +4.5 | 63.7 | 55.8 |
| 215 | Equatorial Guinea | 64.3 | 66.3 | 62.6 | +3.7 | 63.7 | 55.0 |
| 216 | Madagascar | 64.3 | 66.1 | 62.5 | +3.6 | 63.6 | 56.4 |
| 217 | Kenya | 64.2 | 66.5 | 62.0 | +4.5 | 63.6 | 58.9 |
| 218 | Mozambique | 64.1 | 67.1 | 60.8 | +6.3 | 63.6 | 52.7 |
| 219 | Burundi | 64.1 | 66.2 | 62.0 | +4.2 | 63.7 | 56.8 |
| 220 | Zimbabwe | 63.6 | 65.9 | 61.0 | +4.9 | 62.8 | 52.5 |
| 221 | Togo | 63.3 | 63.6 | 63.0 | +0.6 | 62.7 | 55.8 |
| 222 | Liberia | 62.6 | 64.0 | 61.3 | +2.7 | 62.2 | 54.2 |
| 223 | Nauru | 62.6 | 64.6 | 60.7 | +3.9 | 62.1 | – |
| 224 | Côte d'Ivoire | 62.4 | 64.7 | 60.5 | +4.2 | 61.9 | 56.4 |
| 225 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 62.4 | 64.6 | 60.2 | +4.3 | 61.9 | 53.1 |
| 226 | Sierra Leone | 62.3 | 64.1 | 60.6 | +3.5 | 61.8 | 53.6 |
| 227 | Niger | 61.9 | 62.9 | 60.9 | +2.0 | 61.2 | 53.1 |
| 228 | Burkina Faso | 61.6 | 63.8 | 59.4 | +4.4 | 61.1 | 55.5 |
| 229 | Benin | 61.3 | 62.8 | 59.8 | +3.0 | 60.8 | 56.4 |
| 230 | Guinea | 61.2 | 62.4 | 59.9 | +2.5 | 60.7 | 54.2 |
| 231 | Mali | 61.1 | 62.6 | 59.7 | +3.0 | 60.4 | 55.2 |
| 232 | Somalia | 59.3 | 61.9 | 56.8 | +5.1 | 58.8 | 48.6 |
| 233 | Lesotho | 58.6 | 61.3 | 55.8 | +5.4 | 57.4 | 47.9 |
| 234 | Central African Republic | 58.2 | 60.1 | 56.0 | +4.1 | 57.4 | 44.7 |
| 235 | South Sudan | 58.0 | 61.0 | 55.0 | +6.0 | 57.6 | 52.7 |
| 236 | Chad | 55.6 | 57.6 | 53.7 | +3.9 | 55.1 | 52.8 |
| 237 | Nigeria | 55.0 | 55.3 | 54.6 | +0.7 | 54.5 | 54.1 |
Country names are shortened where the UN name is long (for example, “United States” for “United States of America”). “Areas” include territories and special administrative regions that the UN reports separately, such as Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR. Figures for very small populations are less certain.
Key findings
- A 31.8-year gap between the top and the bottom. A baby born in Monaco in 2026 can expect 86.7 years at current death rates, against 55.0 years in Nigeria. Among countries and areas of 1 million people or more, the range runs from Hong Kong SAR (85.9) to Nigeria (55.0).
- Women outlive men in every one of the 237 countries and areas. The world gap is 5.3 years. It is widest in Russia (11.6 years), United States Virgin Islands (10.6 years) and Ukraine (9.5 years), and narrowest in Togo (0.6 years) and Nigeria (0.7 years).
- The median country sits above the world average. The middle value of the 237 countries and areas is 75.9 years (Morocco), 2.1 years above the world figure of 73.8, and 141 of 237 are above the world average. The world figure counts people, not countries, so populous countries below the median, such as India (72.7), Indonesia (71.6) and Pakistan (68.1), weigh more.
- Every region has a wide internal range. Among countries and areas of at least 1 million people: Africa, Tunisia 77.1 to Nigeria 55.0; Asia, Hong Kong SAR 85.9 to Afghanistan 66.8; Europe, Switzerland 84.4 to Moldova 71.6; Latin America and the Caribbean, Puerto Rico 82.3 to Haiti 65.5; Northern America, Canada 83.1 to United States 79.8; Oceania, Australia 84.3 to Papua New Guinea 66.5.
- The United States ranks #64 of 237. At 79.8 years, it is 6.0 years above the world average but 7.0 years behind Monaco and 5.4 years behind Japan (85.1). American women can expect 82.2 years and men 77.4.
- The largest projected rises are mostly recoveries. From the 2023 estimate to the 2026 projection, the biggest increases are State of Palestine (+12.3 years), Libya (+5.8 years) and Ukraine (+1.6 years). In the UN data, State of Palestine fell from 76.7 in 2022 to 65.2 in 2023 and Libya fell from 74.5 in 2022 to 69.3 in 2023, so the 2026 figures assume a recovery. The world figure moves from 73.2 to 73.8. Projections assume recent trends continue.
Healthy life expectancy by country (WHO, 2023)
Worldwide, people can expect 62.8 years in good health out of a life expectancy of 73.3 years, so about 10.5 years are lived in poorer health. Singapore has the highest healthy life expectancy, 72.9 years, followed by Japan (72.2) and South Korea (72.0). The Central African Republic has the lowest, 44.7 years.
- Longer lives come with more years in poorer health. The gap between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy is largest in the United States (13.9 years), Australia (13.5 years) and Canada (13.5 years). It is smallest in Somalia (7.0 years) and Lesotho (7.4 years), where lives are much shorter overall (WHO life expectancy 55.6 and 55.3 years).
- As a share of life, the gap is steadier. In the middle country, about 14% of life is spent in poorer health. Across all 185 countries the share runs from 11% to 18%.
- Women live longer, but in poorer health for longer. Worldwide, women can expect 12.0 years in poorer health and men 9.1. This is true in every one of the 185 countries.
- The United States ranks #82 of 185 for healthy years. Americans can expect 64.6 healthy years and 13.9 years in poorer health, the largest gap of any country. In Japan the figures are 72.2 and 11.7.
- Healthy years after 60. At age 60, people worldwide can expect 15.7 more years in good health. The highest figures are in Singapore (19.6), Japan (19.5) and Israel (19.5).
Healthy life expectancy (HALE) is the average number of years a newborn can expect to live in “full health”, with years lived with illness or disability counted in part, weighted by severity. “Years in poorer health” is WHO life expectancy minus WHO healthy life expectancy for the same year. WHO’s life expectancy figures differ slightly from the UN figures in the main table, so we never mix the two. Source: WHO Global Health Observatory, 2023 estimates (data updated 2026-10-01). To estimate your own healthy years, try our healthspan calculator.
Methodology
Measure. All figures are period life expectancy at birth: the average number of years a newborn would live if the death rates at each age in that year stayed the same for its whole life. It is a summary of current mortality, not a forecast for any person. Because death rates usually keep falling, people born today will, on average, live longer than this figure.
Data. We use the UN Population Division’s World Population Prospects 2024 file “Demographic Indicators, Medium variant” (columns LEx, LExFemale, LExMale). The UN’s estimates run to 2023. Values for 2026 are the UN’s medium-variant projection, its central scenario, published in July 2024. We copied the values as published and rounded them to one decimal for display. Ranks and gaps are calculated from the unrounded values. We did not adjust, interpolate or fill in any figure.
Coverage. 237 countries and areas, every “Country/Area” in the UN file, plus the World total. The regions in our findings are the UN’s geographic regions from the same file. Data downloaded on 2026-10-20.
Healthy life expectancy. The “Healthy years” column and the section above use the World Health Organization’s Global Health Observatory indicators WHOSIS_000002 (healthy life expectancy at birth), WHOSIS_000001 (life expectancy at birth) and WHOSIS_000007 (healthy life expectancy at 60), for 2023, the latest year WHO publishes. WHO covers 185 countries; the other areas show “–”. Values are as published, to one decimal. Downloaded from WHO’s public data service on 2026-10-29.
Why other sites show different numbers. Rankings differ because sources use different years (an estimate for 2021, 2023, or a projection), different editions, or a different source (national statistics offices, WHO, CIA World Factbook). Always compare figures from the same source and year.
Note: the interactive comparison tool at the top of this page uses its own rounded figures from an earlier compilation, which may differ slightly from this table. The table is the reference dataset.
How to cite this data
You are welcome to reuse this table and the findings, including commercially, with attribution. Suggested citation:
Lifespan Check (2026). Life expectancy by country 2026. Compiled from United Nations, World Population Prospects 2024. https://lifespancheck.com/en/life-expectancy-country.html
Please link to https://lifespancheck.com/en/life-expectancy-country.html and credit the original source as “Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.”
License and attribution. Underlying data © United Nations, World Population Prospects 2024, licensed under CC BY 3.0 IGO. Lifespan Check’s ranking, calculations and text are licensed under CC BY 4.0. The United Nations has not reviewed or endorsed this page. Healthy life expectancy figures: WHO, Global Health Observatory, “Healthy life expectancy (HALE) at birth (years)”, 2023, accessed 2026-10-29, with data from WHO Member States. They are used under WHO’s terms of use for data, are not covered by our CC BY 4.0 licence and are not in the CSV. WHO has not reviewed or endorsed this page. See also our link and citation guidelines.
Life expectancy by country: FAQ
Which country has the highest life expectancy in 2026?
Monaco, at 86.7 years (UN World Population Prospects 2024, medium-variant projection for 2026). It is followed by San Marino (86.0) and Hong Kong SAR (85.9). Among countries and areas with at least 1 million people, Hong Kong SAR ranks first with 85.9 years.
What is the average life expectancy in the world in 2026?
73.8 years at birth for both sexes: 76.4 years for women and 71.2 for men, according to UN World Population Prospects 2024. The UN estimate for 2023 was 73.2 years.
How does life expectancy in the US compare with the world?
The United States is projected at 79.8 years in 2026, 6.0 years above the world average of 73.8. It ranks #64 of 237 countries and areas, 7.0 years behind Monaco.
Which country has the lowest life expectancy?
Nigeria, at 55.0 years in 2026, followed by Chad (55.6) and South Sudan (58.0). Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is at 55.0 years.
How much longer do women live than men?
Worldwide, 5.3 years in 2026 (76.4 vs 71.2). Women outlive men in all 237 countries and areas. The gap is widest in Russia (11.6 years), United States Virgin Islands (10.6 years) and Ukraine (9.5 years).
Why do women live longer than men?
Some of the gap is biological, but much of it comes from behaviour, environment and use of health care. In WHO’s World Health Statistics 2019, 33 of the 40 leading causes of death reduced life expectancy more in men than in women. In 2016, a 30-year-old man was 44% more likely than a woman to die of a noncommunicable disease before 70. Men’s suicide rate was 75% higher, their road-injury death rate more than twice as high from age 15, and their homicide rate 4 times higher. Men are much more likely to die of preventable and treatable conditions, and with the same disease they often seek care less than women. The gap is narrowest where women lack access to health services.
Which country has the highest healthy life expectancy?
Singapore, at 72.9 years of good health from birth in 2023, according to WHO’s Global Health Observatory. It is followed by Japan (72.2) and South Korea (72.0). The world figure is 62.8 healthy years, against a WHO life expectancy of 73.3 years.
How many years do people live in poor health?
About 10.5 years worldwide in 2023: WHO estimates life expectancy at 73.3 years and healthy life expectancy at 62.8. Women spend 12.0 years in poorer health and men 9.1. Of 185 countries, the gap is largest in the United States (13.9 years), Australia (13.5 years) and Canada (13.5 years).
Does life expectancy at birth tell me how long I will live?
No. It is a period measure: the average lifespan of a newborn if this year’s death rates by age never changed. Adults who have already survived childhood can expect to reach an older age than this figure, and death rates usually keep falling. For a personal estimate based on your age and habits, use our life expectancy calculator.
Last reviewed: · Data: UN World Population Prospects 2024; WHO Global Health Observatory (2023) · Educational information, not medical advice.