Global life expectancy is still about 1.9 years below where it was projected to be before COVID, and that gap helps explain why some of the biggest risk factors keep resurfacing in the data. From preventable deaths like air pollution and tuberculosis to shifts in smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity, the statistics trace how both health systems and everyday exposures shape how long people live.
Key Takeaways
- 0.66% of the global population was undernourished (46 million people), life expectancy impact via child wasting and undernutrition pathways (2022 estimate)
- 7.0 million deaths from air pollution in 2019 (WHO estimate), affecting life expectancy through premature mortality
- 9.2 million deaths from cancer in 2019 globally, affecting longevity via premature mortality
- OECD reported that life expectancy fell in multiple OECD countries during 2020, reflecting pandemic mortality (2022 OECD health at a glance context)
- Brazil life expectancy at birth decreased by about 2.1 years in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic (IBGE analysis)
- Life expectancy at birth for women in 2022 in the U.S. was 83.7 years, compared with 78.5 years for men (NCHS)
- UNDP: In 2023, 50 countries experienced declines in life expectancy due to shocks including COVID-19 (UNDP/HDI context)
- European Commission: In 2022, the EU27 life expectancy at birth was 80.3 years on average (Eurostat)
- Canada: Life expectancy at birth was 82.2 years in 2022 (OWID series)
- 0.60% of the global population was obese in 1975 versus 13.1% in 2016 (obesity prevalence; linked to lower life expectancy through NCD risk)
- 26.0% of adults were physically inactive globally in 2016 (linked to lower life expectancy through higher NCD risk)
- 5.8 million people died in 2019 from air pollution-related causes including ambient and household air pollution (linked to reduced life expectancy via premature mortality)
- 31.0% of the global population was fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by end-2021 (linked to life expectancy via reduced pandemic mortality risk)
- 5.4 million excess deaths occurred in 2020–2021 globally (linked to reduced life expectancy via premature mortality)
- 3.0 million deaths in 2020 from stroke (premature mortality reduces life expectancy)
COVID-19 and major noncommunicable risks cut global life expectancy, with 2021 still 1.9 years below projections.
Related reading
Drivers Of Change
10.66% of the global population was undernourished (46 million people), life expectancy impact via child wasting and undernutrition pathways (2022 estimate)[1]
Verified
27.0 million deaths from air pollution in 2019 (WHO estimate), affecting life expectancy through premature mortality[2]
Verified
39.2 million deaths from cancer in 2019 globally, affecting longevity via premature mortality[3]
Verified
44.1 million deaths globally due to tuberculosis (2019), a major driver of shorter life expectancy[4]
Verified
51.3 million deaths from HIV/AIDS in 2022, influencing life expectancy through preventable mortality[5]
Single source
Drivers Of Change Interpretation
The Drivers Of Change picture for life expectancy is shaped by preventable premature deaths at massive scale, with air pollution causing 7.0 million deaths in 2019, cancer responsible for 9.2 million in 2019, tuberculosis contributing 4.1 million in 2019, and HIV/AIDS adding 1.3 million deaths in 2022, all of which shorten longevity far more than the 0.66% global undernourishment share of 46 million people in 2022.
More related reading
Covid 19 Impacts
1OECD reported that life expectancy fell in multiple OECD countries during 2020, reflecting pandemic mortality (2022 OECD health at a glance context)[6]
Verified
2Brazil life expectancy at birth decreased by about 2.1 years in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic (IBGE analysis)[7]
Verified
Covid 19 Impacts Interpretation
In the COVID-19 impacts category, life expectancy dropped sharply as OECD countries saw declines in 2020 and Brazil fell about 2.1 years in 2020, underscoring how pandemic mortality quickly reversed gains in longevity.
Inequality And Gaps
1Life expectancy at birth for women in 2022 in the U.S. was 83.7 years, compared with 78.5 years for men (NCHS)[8]
Directional
Inequality And Gaps Interpretation
In 2022, U.S. women lived 83.7 years on average compared with 78.5 years for men, highlighting a clear gender gap in life expectancy that fits the “Inequality And Gaps” theme.
More related reading
Demographic Patterns
1UNDP: In 2023, 50 countries experienced declines in life expectancy due to shocks including COVID-19 (UNDP/HDI context)[9]
Directional
2European Commission: In 2022, the EU27 life expectancy at birth was 80.3 years on average (Eurostat)[10]
Verified
3Canada: Life expectancy at birth was 82.2 years in 2022 (OWID series)[11]
Verified
4Mexico: Life expectancy at birth was 74.9 years in 2022 (OWID series)[12]
Directional
5Russia: Life expectancy at birth was 71.1 years in 2022 (OWID series)[13]
Verified
6South Korea: Life expectancy at birth was 83.4 years in 2022 (OWID series)[14]
Verified
Demographic Patterns Interpretation
Within the demographic patterns in 2022 and 2023, life expectancy remains high for many countries such as the EU27 at 80.3 years and South Korea at 83.4 years, yet setbacks still occur with 50 countries seeing declines in 2023 after shocks including COVID-19.
Risk Factors
10.60% of the global population was obese in 1975 versus 13.1% in 2016 (obesity prevalence; linked to lower life expectancy through NCD risk)[15]
Verified
226.0% of adults were physically inactive globally in 2016 (linked to lower life expectancy through higher NCD risk)[16]
Verified
35.8 million people died in 2019 from air pollution-related causes including ambient and household air pollution (linked to reduced life expectancy via premature mortality)[17]
Verified
41.0% of all deaths were attributable to ambient ozone exposure in 2019 (linked to reduced life expectancy via premature mortality)[18]
Verified
53.0 million deaths in 2020 were attributable to alcohol use (linked to reduced life expectancy via premature mortality)[19]
Directional
Risk Factors Interpretation
From a risk factors perspective, the sharp rise in obesity from 0.60% in 1975 to 13.1% in 2016 alongside high physical inactivity at 26.0% in 2016 helps explain why millions of premature deaths still occur, including 5.8 million from air pollution in 2019 and 1.0% of all deaths from ambient ozone exposure in 2019.
More related reading
Health Systems
131.0% of the global population was fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by end-2021 (linked to life expectancy via reduced pandemic mortality risk)[20]
Verified
25.4 million excess deaths occurred in 2020–2021 globally (linked to reduced life expectancy via premature mortality)[21]
Single source
Health Systems Interpretation
From a Health Systems perspective, only 31.0% of the world’s people were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by end 2021 while 5.4 million excess deaths occurred in 2020 to 2021, underscoring how limited immunization coverage and pandemic response translate into premature loss of life.
Disease Burden
13.0 million deaths in 2020 from stroke (premature mortality reduces life expectancy)[22]
Single source
Disease Burden Interpretation
In the Disease Burden category, stroke accounted for 3.0 million deaths in 2020, showing how premature mortality meaningfully drags down life expectancy.
More related reading
Global Falls
13.6% decline in life expectancy at birth in 2020 in low-income countries compared with 2019 (pandemic-era reduction; study estimate)[23]
Verified
2In 2021, global life expectancy was 1.9 years below the pre-COVID projection (model estimate of COVID-19 impact)[24]
Verified
Global Falls Interpretation
Under the Global Falls framing, life expectancy took a sharp hit during the pandemic with a 3.6% drop in low-income countries in 2020 and, by 2021, global life expectancy still lagging 1.9 years behind the pre-COVID projection.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marcus Afolabi. (2026, February 13). Life Expectancy Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/life-expectancy-statistics
MLA
Marcus Afolabi. "Life Expectancy Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/life-expectancy-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Afolabi. 2026. "Life Expectancy Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/life-expectancy-statistics.
References
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- 2who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-quality-and-health
- 3who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer
- 4who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis
- 5who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids
- 6oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/health-at-a-glance-2021_0f6f1a4f-en
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