Globally, people live longer and women still outlive men – U.N. report.

Life expectancy across the world continues to rise, reaching an average of 73.4 years in 2025, according to new United Nations figures. But the data shows a stark divide: people in the longest-living nations can expect to live more than three decades longer than those in the lowest-ranking countries.

Wealthy microstates lead global rankings

Residents of Monaco enjoy the world’s highest life expectancy at 86.5 years, followed closely by San Marino (85.8), Hong Kong (85.6), and Japan (84.8). These societies tend to pair universal healthcare and low crime rates with strong social protections and diets rich in seafood and low in processed foods.

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Among major global economies, South Korea (84.4), Australia (84.1), and Italy (83.9) perform strongly. The United States, however, trails many peers with a life expectancy of 79.6 years, placing it outside the top 40.

In China, the average is 78.3 years, with few exceptions – Hong Kong and Macao (83.4). Canada’s average life expectancy is at 82.8.

Women outlive men in every country in the dataset, by an average of five years. The gap is largest in Russia (73.5), where women live nearly 12 years longer than men.

Sub-Saharan Africa at the bottom

At the lower end of the scale, several Sub-Saharan African countries continue to report life expectancies under 60 years. Nigeria ranks last at 54.6 years, followed by Chad (55.2) and the Central African Republic (57.7).

These countries face persistent structural challenges, including limited access to healthcare, widespread malnutrition, and high infant mortality rates.

The difference between the highest- and lowest-living populations now exceeds 30 years, with Monaco and Nigeria bookending the global list.

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Progress and risks

While global life expectancy is generally rising, the pace of progress varies sharply. Improvements in healthcare systems, education, and infrastructure could help narrow gaps in developing nations. In wealthier countries, however, lifestyle-related illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes remain significant barriers to further gains.

Data correlation also shows that the countries with the highest life expectancy are least affected by corruption; in countries with the lowest life expectancy, corruption is among the highest in the world.