Life expectancy is shaped by threats across the life course, from early-life undernutrition to major killers that shorten lives through premature death. This page examines risks such as air pollution, cancer, tuberculosis, and stroke, alongside lifestyle factors like obesity and physical inactivity. It also considers how COVID-19 shocks altered outcomes and how levels vary by country and region, including differences between women and men in the U.S.
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 and chronic risks cut global life expectancy, from undernutrition to air pollution and cancer deaths.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographic Patterns12 stats
01
UNDP: In 2023, 50 countries experienced declines in life expectancy due to shocks including COVID-19 (UNDP/HDI context)
02
European Commission: In 2022, the EU27 life expectancy at birth was 80.3 years on average (Eurostat)
03
Canada: Life expectancy at birth was 82.2 years in 2022 (OWID series)
04
Mexico: Life expectancy at birth was 74.9 years in 2022 (OWID series)
05
Russia: Life expectancy at birth was 71.1 years in 2022 (OWID series)
06
South Korea: Life expectancy at birth was 83.4 years in 2022 (OWID series)
07
82.3 years life expectancy at birth in Japan (2022)
08
81.7 years life expectancy at birth in Japan (2021)
09
81.8 years life expectancy at birth in Japan (2020)
10
81.3 years life expectancy at birth in Japan (2019)
11
81.1 years life expectancy at birth in Japan (2018)
12
81.0 years life expectancy at birth in Japan (2017)
Interpretation
Demographic Patterns Interpretation
Under the Demographic Patterns angle, life expectancy varies widely across countries, with the EU27 averaging 80.3 years in 2022 and South Korea reaching 83.4 years while Russia sits much lower at 71.1 and, in 2023, 50 countries still saw declines linked to shocks such as COVID-19.
report visual · Projection
Japan’s life expectancy at birth is steadily rising
Life expectancy at birth in Japan has risen over time, with the latest year (2022) as the leader, showing an upward gap versus earlier years.
81 years
Start
+0.32%
CAGR · 5y
82.3 years
Projected
20172022
source-verifiedourworldindata.org2022
02 · Category
Drivers Of Change5 stats
01
0.66% of the global population was undernourished (46 million people), life expectancy impact via child wasting and undernutrition pathways (2022 estimate)
02
7.0 million deaths from air pollution in 2019 (WHO estimate), affecting life expectancy through premature mortality
03
9.2 million deaths from cancer in 2019 globally, affecting longevity via premature mortality
04
4.1 million deaths globally due to tuberculosis (2019), a major driver of shorter life expectancy
05
1.3 million deaths from HIV/AIDS in 2022, influencing life expectancy through preventable mortality
Interpretation
Drivers Of Change Interpretation
Under the Drivers Of Change lens, preventable and environment linked illness still drives sharp life expectancy losses, with millions of premature deaths annually from air pollution, cancer, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS plus undernutrition affecting 0.66 percent of the global population.
03 · Category
Risk Factors5 stats
01
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)
02
26.0% of adults were physically inactive globally in 2016 (linked to lower life expectancy through higher NCD risk)
03
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)
04
1.0% of all deaths were attributable to ambient ozone exposure in 2019 (linked to reduced life expectancy via premature mortality)
05
3.0 million deaths in 2020 were attributable to alcohol use (linked to reduced life expectancy via premature mortality)
Interpretation
Risk Factors Interpretation
Risk factors tied to lifestyle and pollution have clearly worsened over time, with obesity rising from 0.60% in 1975 to 13.1% in 2016 and 26.0% of adults still physically inactive in 2016, while in 2019 air pollution caused 5.8 million deaths and ambient ozone accounted for 1.0% of all deaths.
More related reading
04 · Category
Covid 19 Impacts2 stats
01
OECD reported that life expectancy fell in multiple OECD countries during 2020, reflecting pandemic mortality (2022 OECD health at a glance context)
02
Brazil life expectancy at birth decreased by about 2.1 years in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic (IBGE analysis)
Interpretation
Covid 19 Impacts Interpretation
During the Covid 19 impacts in 2020, life expectancy dropped sharply with OECD countries seeing declines in multiple nations and Brazil’s life expectancy at birth falling by about 2.1 years, underscoring the pandemic’s severe mortality toll.
05 · Category
Health Systems2 stats
01
31.0% of the global population was fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by end-2021 (linked to life expectancy via reduced pandemic mortality risk)
02
5.4 million excess deaths occurred in 2020–2021 globally (linked to reduced life expectancy via premature mortality)
Interpretation
Health Systems Interpretation
From a health systems perspective, about 31.0% of people were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by end 2021 while the world still recorded 5.4 million excess deaths in 2020 to 2021, showing how gaps in pandemic preparedness and delivery continue to translate into lower life expectancy through preventable mortality.
06 · Category
Industry Overview4 stats
01
3.6% decline in life expectancy at birth in 2020 in low-income countries compared with 2019 (pandemic-era reduction; study estimate)
02
In 2021, global life expectancy was 1.9 years below the pre-COVID projection (model estimate of COVID-19 impact)
03
Life expectancy at birth for women in 2022 in the U.S. was 83.7 years, compared with 78.5 years for men (NCHS)
04
3.0 million deaths in 2020 from stroke (premature mortality reduces life expectancy)
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
From 2020 to 2022, life expectancy trends show how pandemic and chronic disease pressures compounded across regions and populations, with low income countries seeing a 3.6% drop in 2020 and global life expectancy in 2021 running 1.9 years below the pre COVID projection, while the U.S. still reported a gender gap of 83.7 years for women versus 78.5 for men.
Reference
Cite This Report
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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.
Sources & references
30 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+18 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)