After World War II, Hong Kong underwent rapid economic development and has since seen a steady increase in the life expectancy of its people. The average life expectancy in Hong Kong is 88.66 years for females and 83.00 for males. Technically not a sovereign nation but a Special Administrative Region of China, the United Nations estimates that Hong Kong has the second-highest life expectancy in the world as of 2023. Second is the country's top-notch (and state-funded) healthcare system, and third is the large percentage of residents with enough disposable income to afford healthy lifestyles and any additional wellness aids they may desire. First is the Mediterranean diet, which is high in healthy seafood, fruits, and vegetables. Why do Monaco's people live so long? Experts attribute the country's extra-long lifespans to multiple factors. Males in Monaco are expected to live an average of 85.17 years, and females are expected to live an even longer 88.99 years, for an overall average of 87.01 years. One of the smallest countries in the world, Monaco also has the UN's longest estimated life expectancy of any country as of 2023. Profiles: Countries with the longest and shortest life expectancies 1. However, healthy life expectancy in the United States during that same year was 66.1 years. For instance, according to the World Health Organization, the average life expectancy for residents of the United States was 78.5 years in 2019. Life expectancy measures the average total years in a person's life, while healthy life expectancy tracks the number of years during which an average person would consider themselves healthy.īecause of this variation in meaning, healthy life expectancy tends to be notably shorter than life expectancy, as most individuals' overall health declines at least somewhat as they approach senescence. The difference between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy is hinted at by their names. In addition to general life expectancy, some sources track healthy life expectancy (HALE), a related metric with one crucial difference. Life expectancy versus healthy life expectancy (HALE) The WHO expects that health treatments across the African continent will continue to improve, further increasing life expectancy in those countries. While the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating effect on African lifespans, it too was brought largely under control by late 2022. Even diseases that are largely unheard of in other parts of the world, such as measles, cholera, and monkeypox remain an active concern in some African countries.įortunately, treatments for both HIV and malaria have become more widely available since 2000, and are considered the main reason Africa's life expectancy increased by more than 10 years between 20.

Many African countries were hit hard by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and malaria has been an issue for even longer. African countries often struggle with hunger and especially with disease. However, the WHO African Region has seen a massive improvement in life expectancy in recent years, registering an increase of 10.3 years between 20.

10 Countries with the Longest Life Expectancies (United Nations 2023):Īs a rule, the countries with the lowest life expectancies in the world tend to be located in Africa. Viewing the world as a whole, the number of people born each day is higher than the number of deaths per day, which has led to explosive population growth over the past 200 years. This was largely due to improvements in the survival of children aged 0-5 and expanded access to antiretroviral treatments for HIV/AIDS. Between 20, the average life expectancy increased by 5.5 years globally, highlighted by an increase of 10.3 years in parts of Africa. Life expectancies vary significantly by region as well as by country, and in 2023 ranged from a low of 57.7 years in Western Africa to a high of 82.7 years in Western Europe. Given country-to-country differences in many of these components, it is perhaps unsurprising that countries around the world have varying life expectancies.Īccording to the United Nations, the global life expectancy as of 2023 was 70.8 years for males and 76.0 years for females, for an average of 73.4 years. Studies indicate that longevity is based on three major factors: genetics, gender, and lifestyle, which includes components such as hygiene, diet and exercise, culture, lifestyle choices (such as smoking and profession), access to quality healthcare, and even crime rates. It is the average number of years that a person may expect to live, from birth to death. Life expectancy at birth reflects the overall mortality level of a population.

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