When both sexes are combined, global life expectancy stands at about 73.5 years.

Today’s long lives would have been unimaginable to our ancestors. Around 1900, the global average life expectancy was just 32 years, largely because of high child mortality.

By 2021, it had more than doubled to 71 years, thanks to advancements in medicine, sanitation, vaccines and economic growth. The gains have occurred across all age groups: not only are children less likely to die young, but adults and the elderly are also surviving diseases that were once death sentences.

The rise has been remarkably consistent across continents. In 1800, no region had a life expectancy above 40 years. Today, even Africa, still the area with the shortest lifespans, has an average lifespan of over 60 years.

However, wide disparities remain. Nigeria’s life expectancy in 2021 was 30 years lower than Japan’s. Countries with lower averages also tend to have greater variation between rich and poor.

What drives longer lives?

The dramatic increase in life expectancy reflects public-health victories. Clean water, sanitation, vaccines and antibiotics have slashed deaths from infectious diseases. Improvements in maternal and newborn care mean more babies survive their first years.

Over the past half‑century, rising incomes and better nutrition have further extended life spans. Our World In Data emphasises that declines in mortality have been seen at all ages, not just among childrenourworldindata.org.

However, life expectancy stalled or even fell in some countries during the COVID‑19 pandemic. The World Health Organisation estimates that global life expectancy dropped by almost two years in 2020–2021 due to COVID‑19, reversing years of progress. Recovery has been uneven, with wealthier regions bouncing back faster than poorer ones.

According to the latest figures from IHME Global Burden of Disease and Global Terrorism Database, 74% of global deaths are caused by noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)—long-term, often lifestyle-related illnesses that receive relatively little attention in public discourse compared to infectious diseases or violent conflict.

A breakdown of global mortality

The data segments the primary causes of death into three categories:

1. Noncommunicable Diseases (74%)

Leading this category:

This overwhelming majority underscores the need for urgent investment in public health systems, prevention campaigns, and healthier living initiatives to address the rising burden of chronic diseases—particularly in aging populations and increasingly urbanized societies.

2. Infectious diseases (14%)

Despite considerable progress in combating infectious diseases globally, they still represent a significant portion of deaths:

These diseases predominantly affect low- and middle-income countries and remain a top concern for global health organizations working to reduce mortality through vaccination, sanitation, and access to medical care.

3. Injuries, accidents , and other causes (12%)

This category includes both preventable and external factors:

Despite media focus, deaths from war, terrorism, and violence account for only a tiny fraction of global mortality.

Despite significant advances in medical research and healthcare, heart-related illnesses continue to pose the greatest health threat across member states, accounting for over 1.7 million deaths annually.

Eurostat ’s 2024 report reveals that approximately 32% of all deaths in the EU are attributed to cardiovascular diseases, which include conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and hypertension-related complications.

WHO data further underscores this trend, indicating that ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease (primarily strokes) are the two main culprits behind premature mortality in the region.

While cancer and other chronic diseases have become more prominent in public discourse, cardiovascular diseases still eclipse them in terms of total fatalities. The burden is especially pronounced in Central and Eastern European countries, where lifestyle factors, limited access to preventive care, and economic disparities contribute to higher mortality rates.

CVDs affect both men and women, though the patterns differ. Eurostat data shows that men are more likely to suffer fatal heart attacks at a younger age, while women tend to have higher rates of fatal strokes later in life.

Countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary report the highest age-standardised mortality rates from cardiovascular causes, in contrast to France, Spain, and Italy, where rates are considerably lower due to better diet, healthcare access, and public health initiatives.

According to data from World Population Review , here are the top 7 countries with the lowest cancer rates per 100,000 people:

Sierra Leone: With an age-standardized rate (ASR) of just 35.9 cases per 100,000 people , Niger has the lowest cancer rate globally.

Angola: Following closely, Angola reports an ASR of 76.8 cases per 100,000.

Gambia: Gambia reports an ASR of 79.2 cases per 100,000.

Republic of the Congo: DR Congo has an ASR of 80.7 cases per 100,000.

Nepal: This South Asian country has an ASR of 81.6 cases per 100,000.

Qatar: With an ASR of 82.4 cases per 100,000, Qatar ranks sixth.

Yemen: This Middle East nation reports an ASR of 83.1 cases per 100,000.

According to the CIA World Factbook , here are the top 10 countries with the highest death rates in 2024: