As of 2020, the countries with the highest life expectancy included Japan, Norway, Korea, and Switzerland. As of that time, a new-born child in Japan could expect to live an average of 84.7 years. Around the world, females consistently have a higher average life expectancy than males, with females in Europe expected to live an average of seven years longer than males on this continent.
Increases in life expectancy
The overall average life expectancy in OECD countries increased by 10.6 years from 1970 to 2017. The countries that saw the largest increases included Turkey, India, and South Korea. The life expectancy at birth in Turkey increased an astonishing 23.9 years over this period. The country with the lowest life expectancy worldwide as of 2019 was Central African Republic, where a newborn could be expected to live an average of 53 years.
Life expectancy in the U.S.
The life expectancy in the United States was 78.79 years as of 2019. Shockingly, the life expectancy in the United States has decreased in recent years, while it continues to increase in other similarly developed countries. Increasing rates of suicide and drug overdose deaths from the opioid epidemic have been cited as reasons for this decrease.
Average life expectancy in selected countries as of 2020
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Statista Accounts:
Access All Statistics. Starting from $468 / Year
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
OECD. (October 28, 2021). Average life expectancy in selected countries as of 2020 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 29, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/236583/global-life-expectancy-by-country/
OECD. "Average life expectancy in selected countries as of 2020." Chart. October 28, 2021. Statista. Accessed May 29, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/236583/global-life-expectancy-by-country/
OECD. (2021). Average life expectancy in selected countries as of 2020. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 29, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/236583/global-life-expectancy-by-country/
OECD. "Average Life Expectancy in Selected Countries as of 2020." Statista, Statista Inc., 28 Oct 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/236583/global-life-expectancy-by-country/
OECD, Average life expectancy in selected countries as of 2020 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/236583/global-life-expectancy-by-country/ (last visited May 29, 2022)