How Long Do People Live Around the World in 2026?
Key Takeaways
- Monaco leads at 86.7 years, almost 32 years ahead of last-ranked Nigeria at 55.0.
- The world’s average life expectancy in 2026 (73.8 years) is higher than that of any country or territory in 1950, when San Marino and Norway led at 71.6.
- The U.S. ranks 64th at 79.8 years, trailing Chile (81.7), Costa Rica (81.4), and Albania (80.1). Its gain since 1950 is the sixth-smallest in the dataset.
Life expectancy has improved in every country and territory in this ranking since 1950, though progress has varied considerably.
This graphic ranks 237 countries and territories by life expectancy at birth in 2026 and shows their gains since 1950, using the United Nations’ World Population Prospects 2024 medium projections for 2026.
European Microstates and East Asia Lead Global Life Expectancy
Monaco has the highest life expectancy in the world at 86.7 years, followed by fellow European microstate San Marino at 86.0 years.
The next three places are in East Asia: Hong Kong (85.9), Japan (85.1), and South Korea (84.6). Heart health is one contributing factor, as Japan and South Korea have some of the lowest death rates from coronary heart disease in the OECD.
The table below shows life expectancy in 1950 and 2026 for all 237 countries and territories, along with the years gained:
| Rank | Country / Territory | Life Expectancy in 1950 (Years) | Life Expectancy in 2026 (Years) | Gain Since 1950 (Years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monaco | 68.0 | 86.7 | 18.7 |
| 2 | San Marino | 71.6 | 86.0 | 14.4 |
| 3 | Hong Kong SAR | 57.8 | 85.9 | 28.1 |
| 4 | Japan | 59.3 | 85.1 | 25.9 |
| 5 | South Korea | 22.2 | 84.6 | 62.4 |
| 6 | Saint Barthélemy | 54.0 | 84.6 | 30.7 |
| 7 | Andorra | 67.2 | 84.5 | 17.3 |
| 8 | French Polynesia | 51.9 | 84.4 | 32.6 |
| 9 | Switzerland | 68.9 | 84.4 | 15.5 |
| 10 | Australia | 69.0 | 84.3 | 15.3 |
| 11 | Italy | 65.7 | 84.2 | 18.5 |
| 12 | Singapore | 54.1 | 84.1 | 30.0 |
| 13 | Spain | 61.8 | 84.1 | 22.3 |
| 14 | Liechtenstein | 65.3 | 84.1 | 18.7 |
| 15 | Réunion | 47.6 | 83.9 | 36.4 |
| 16 | Gibraltar | 65.1 | 83.9 | 18.8 |
| 17 | Malta | 63.5 | 83.8 | 20.3 |
| 18 | Norway | 71.6 | 83.8 | 12.2 |
| 19 | Sweden | 71.1 | 83.7 | 12.6 |
| 20 | France | 66.4 | 83.7 | 17.3 |
| 21 | Guernsey | 71.2 | 83.7 | 12.4 |
| 22 | Macao SAR | 58.3 | 83.6 | 25.3 |
| 23 | Holy See | 65.9 | 83.4 | 17.6 |
| 24 | United Arab Emirates | 42.1 | 83.4 | 41.2 |
| 25 | Iceland | 71.0 | 83.3 | 12.3 |
| 26 | Canada | 68.2 | 83.1 | 14.8 |
| 27 | Martinique | 55.0 | 83.0 | 28.1 |
| 28 | Ireland | 65.6 | 82.9 | 17.3 |
| 29 | Israel | 69.9 | 82.9 | 13.0 |
| 30 | Portugal | 58.5 | 82.9 | 24.4 |
| 31 | Qatar | 50.8 | 82.8 | 32.1 |
| 32 | Bermuda | 60.4 | 82.8 | 22.5 |
| 33 | Luxembourg | 65.5 | 82.6 | 17.1 |
| 34 | Netherlands | 71.4 | 82.6 | 11.2 |
| 35 | Belgium | 66.3 | 82.6 | 16.3 |
| 36 | Guadeloupe | 53.1 | 82.6 | 29.5 |
| 37 | New Zealand | 69.3 | 82.5 | 13.3 |
| 38 | Austria | 64.8 | 82.5 | 17.6 |
| 39 | Finland | 64.2 | 82.4 | 18.2 |
| 40 | Greece | 66.2 | 82.4 | 16.2 |
| 41 | Denmark | 70.3 | 82.4 | 12.1 |
| 42 | Puerto Rico | 60.4 | 82.3 | 21.9 |
| 43 | Cyprus | 55.8 | 82.2 | 26.3 |
| 44 | Slovenia | 61.8 | 82.1 | 20.3 |
| 45 | Germany | 66.8 | 81.9 | 15.1 |
| 46 | United Kingdom | 68.6 | 81.7 | 13.1 |
| 47 | Bahrain | 38.6 | 81.7 | 43.1 |
| 48 | Maldives | 36.5 | 81.7 | 45.2 |
| 49 | Chile | 53.2 | 81.7 | 28.6 |
| 50 | Isle of Man | 63.1 | 81.4 | 18.3 |
| 51 | Costa Rica | 57.5 | 81.4 | 23.9 |
| 52 | Taiwan | 56.6 | 81.1 | 24.5 |
| 53 | Kuwait | 49.7 | 81.0 | 31.2 |
| 54 | Cayman Islands | 54.0 | 80.9 | 26.9 |
| 55 | Saint Martin (French part) | 65.1 | 80.8 | 15.7 |
| 56 | Faroe Islands | 60.6 | 80.8 | 20.2 |
| 57 | Oman | 29.3 | 80.7 | 51.4 |
| 58 | Czechia | 64.4 | 80.3 | 15.8 |
| 59 | Panama | 55.4 | 80.1 | 24.7 |
| 60 | Jersey | 69.4 | 80.1 | 10.7 |
| 61 | Albania | 44.5 | 80.1 | 35.6 |
| 62 | Anguilla | 55.1 | 79.9 | 24.8 |
| 63 | Falkland Islands (Malvinas) | 49.5 | 79.8 | 30.3 |
| 64 | United States | 68.1 | 79.8 | 11.7 |
| 65 | Estonia | 66.4 | 79.6 | 13.3 |
| 66 | Saudi Arabia | 40.0 | 79.4 | 39.4 |
| 67 | New Caledonia | 45.1 | 79.2 | 34.1 |
| 68 | Northern Mariana Islands | 58.2 | 79.2 | 21.0 |
| 69 | Poland | 58.3 | 79.2 | 20.8 |
| 70 | Croatia | 58.5 | 79.1 | 20.6 |
| 71 | Wallis and Futuna Islands | 44.1 | 79.0 | 34.9 |
| 72 | China | 43.8 | 79.0 | 35.2 |
| 73 | Slovakia | 60.8 | 78.8 | 18.0 |
| 74 | Cuba | 59.0 | 78.6 | 19.6 |
| 75 | Uruguay | 65.6 | 78.6 | 13.0 |
| 76 | Kosovo | 43.5 | 78.6 | 35.1 |
| 77 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 48.6 | 78.5 | 29.9 |
| 78 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 47.3 | 78.4 | 31.1 |
| 79 | Türkiye | 47.3 | 78.4 | 31.1 |
| 80 | Jordan | 40.9 | 78.3 | 37.4 |
| 81 | Peru | 46.0 | 78.3 | 32.3 |
| 82 | Colombia | 48.3 | 78.3 | 30.0 |
| 83 | Iran | 38.2 | 78.2 | 40.1 |
| 84 | Lebanon | 59.9 | 78.2 | 18.3 |
| 85 | Antigua and Barbuda | 58.1 | 78.1 | 20.0 |
| 86 | Sri Lanka | 53.2 | 78.0 | 24.9 |
| 87 | Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba | 61.5 | 78.0 | 16.4 |
| 88 | Ecuador | 48.4 | 77.9 | 29.5 |
| 89 | Argentina | 61.3 | 77.8 | 16.6 |
| 90 | North Macedonia | 50.6 | 77.8 | 27.2 |
| 91 | Guam | 59.6 | 77.8 | 18.2 |
| 92 | British Virgin Islands | 53.3 | 77.8 | 24.4 |
| 93 | Montenegro | 58.0 | 77.6 | 19.6 |
| 94 | French Guiana | 47.7 | 77.5 | 29.8 |
| 95 | Hungary | 62.1 | 77.5 | 15.4 |
| 96 | State of Palestine | 45.7 | 77.4 | 31.7 |
| 97 | Tokelau | 54.7 | 77.4 | 22.7 |
| 98 | Curaçao | 60.3 | 77.3 | 17.1 |
| 99 | Serbia | 55.1 | 77.3 | 22.2 |
| 100 | Saint Helena | 66.0 | 77.3 | 11.3 |
| 101 | Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 62.9 | 77.3 | 14.3 |
| 102 | Malaysia | 48.5 | 77.2 | 28.7 |
| 103 | Tunisia | 38.2 | 77.1 | 38.9 |
| 104 | Thailand | 45.2 | 77.1 | 31.9 |
| 105 | Algeria | 42.7 | 76.9 | 34.2 |
| 106 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 62.4 | 76.9 | 14.4 |
| 107 | Aruba | 58.0 | 76.8 | 18.8 |
| 108 | Montserrat | 48.6 | 76.7 | 28.1 |
| 109 | Barbados | 53.6 | 76.6 | 23.1 |
| 110 | Latvia | 64.6 | 76.6 | 12.1 |
| 111 | Mayotte | 42.2 | 76.6 | 34.4 |
| 112 | Cabo Verde | 44.9 | 76.6 | 31.6 |
| 113 | Lithuania | 66.1 | 76.5 | 10.4 |
| 114 | Romania | 60.5 | 76.4 | 15.9 |
| 115 | Brazil | 48.5 | 76.4 | 27.8 |
| 116 | Armenia | 54.6 | 76.2 | 21.6 |
| 117 | United States Virgin Islands | 59.9 | 76.2 | 16.3 |
| 118 | Bulgaria | 61.5 | 76.1 | 14.7 |
| 119 | Morocco | 38.8 | 75.9 | 37.1 |
| 120 | Cook Islands | 37.9 | 75.8 | 37.9 |
| 121 | Brunei | 50.6 | 75.8 | 25.3 |
| 122 | Grenada | 52.7 | 75.7 | 22.9 |
| 123 | Mexico | 43.8 | 75.6 | 31.8 |
| 124 | Bangladesh | 37.4 | 75.5 | 38.1 |
| 125 | Mauritius | 51.9 | 75.4 | 23.5 |
| 126 | Nicaragua | 40.6 | 75.4 | 34.8 |
| 127 | Libya | 33.1 | 75.2 | 42.1 |
| 128 | Vietnam | 48.0 | 75.0 | 27.0 |
| 129 | Ukraine | 61.2 | 75.0 | 13.8 |
| 130 | Bahamas | 58.9 | 75.0 | 16.1 |
| 131 | Georgia | 57.7 | 75.0 | 17.3 |
| 132 | Belarus | 58.6 | 75.0 | 16.3 |
| 133 | Azerbaijan | 46.3 | 74.9 | 28.6 |
| 134 | Kazakhstan | 55.6 | 74.8 | 19.2 |
| 135 | Paraguay | 58.1 | 74.2 | 16.2 |
| 136 | Dominican Republic | 44.1 | 74.1 | 30.1 |
| 137 | Belize | 49.2 | 74.1 | 24.9 |
| 138 | Suriname | 50.7 | 74.0 | 23.3 |
| 139 | North Korea | 14.2 | 74.0 | 59.8 |
| 140 | Trinidad and Tobago | 57.0 | 73.9 | 16.9 |
| 141 | Bhutan | 35.3 | 73.8 | 38.5 |
| 142 | Russia | 55.5 | 73.7 | 18.2 |
| 143 | Syria | 42.5 | 73.4 | 31.0 |
| 144 | Tonga | 48.4 | 73.4 | 25.0 |
| 145 | Honduras | 41.0 | 73.4 | 32.3 |
| 146 | Seychelles | 57.8 | 73.3 | 15.5 |
| 147 | American Samoa | 59.2 | 73.3 | 14.1 |
| 148 | Saint Lucia | 48.3 | 73.2 | 24.9 |
| 149 | Guatemala | 37.8 | 73.0 | 35.2 |
| 150 | Venezuela | 51.1 | 73.0 | 21.9 |
| 151 | Uzbekistan | 53.3 | 72.8 | 19.4 |
| 152 | El Salvador | 44.2 | 72.7 | 28.5 |
| 153 | India | 41.2 | 72.7 | 31.5 |
| 154 | Iraq | 37.4 | 72.6 | 35.2 |
| 155 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 54.8 | 72.6 | 17.8 |
| 156 | Mongolia | 38.6 | 72.5 | 33.9 |
| 157 | Tajikistan | 49.3 | 72.2 | 22.8 |
| 158 | Egypt | 34.0 | 72.2 | 38.2 |
| 159 | Kyrgyzstan | 52.1 | 72.1 | 20.0 |
| 160 | Samoa | 49.2 | 72.1 | 22.9 |
| 161 | Vanuatu | 43.9 | 72.0 | 28.1 |
| 162 | Western Sahara | 34.9 | 72.0 | 37.0 |
| 163 | Jamaica | 56.6 | 71.9 | 15.3 |
| 164 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 46.9 | 71.7 | 24.8 |
| 165 | Dominica | 44.5 | 71.6 | 27.1 |
| 166 | Moldova | 54.0 | 71.6 | 17.6 |
| 167 | Indonesia | 40.2 | 71.6 | 31.4 |
| 168 | Nepal | 37.6 | 71.2 | 33.6 |
| 169 | Cambodia | 38.9 | 71.1 | 32.3 |
| 170 | Solomon Islands | 41.4 | 71.0 | 29.5 |
| 171 | Guyana | 49.2 | 70.6 | 21.4 |
| 172 | Turkmenistan | 48.1 | 70.5 | 22.4 |
| 173 | Greenland | 39.5 | 70.4 | 30.9 |
| 174 | Niue | 54.6 | 70.4 | 15.8 |
| 175 | Sao Tome and Principe | 39.1 | 70.3 | 31.1 |
| 176 | Philippines | 53.6 | 70.2 | 16.6 |
| 177 | Yemen | 28.9 | 69.7 | 40.8 |
| 178 | Laos | 38.9 | 69.7 | 30.8 |
| 179 | Palau | 52.7 | 69.6 | 16.9 |
| 180 | Botswana | 46.2 | 69.6 | 23.4 |
| 181 | Eritrea | 33.3 | 69.4 | 36.1 |
| 182 | Senegal | 36.5 | 69.4 | 32.9 |
| 183 | Mauritania | 38.4 | 69.2 | 30.8 |
| 184 | Bolivia | 40.7 | 69.1 | 28.4 |
| 185 | Uganda | 39.7 | 68.9 | 29.2 |
| 186 | Gabon | 39.3 | 68.9 | 29.6 |
| 187 | Rwanda | 43.2 | 68.5 | 25.3 |
| 188 | Timor-Leste | 29.2 | 68.3 | 39.2 |
| 189 | Ethiopia | 35.5 | 68.1 | 32.6 |
| 190 | Pakistan | 34.2 | 68.1 | 33.8 |
| 191 | Malawi | 32.7 | 67.9 | 35.3 |
| 192 | Namibia | 41.9 | 67.8 | 25.9 |
| 193 | Fiji | 51.7 | 67.8 | 16.1 |
| 194 | Micronesia | 48.4 | 67.7 | 19.3 |
| 195 | Tanzania | 41.0 | 67.6 | 26.6 |
| 196 | Tuvalu | 40.0 | 67.6 | 27.6 |
| 197 | Myanmar | 35.7 | 67.5 | 31.8 |
| 198 | Comoros | 37.4 | 67.5 | 30.1 |
| 199 | Marshall Islands | 52.6 | 67.3 | 14.7 |
| 200 | Sudan | 45.8 | 66.9 | 21.1 |
| 201 | Zambia | 46.8 | 66.9 | 20.1 |
| 202 | Kiribati | 45.7 | 66.9 | 21.1 |
| 203 | Afghanistan | 28.2 | 66.8 | 38.6 |
| 204 | South Africa | 43.1 | 66.7 | 23.5 |
| 205 | Djibouti | 40.7 | 66.6 | 25.9 |
| 206 | Papua New Guinea | 39.4 | 66.5 | 27.1 |
| 207 | Gambia | 31.2 | 66.5 | 35.3 |
| 208 | Republic of the Congo | 39.6 | 66.4 | 26.8 |
| 209 | Ghana | 43.1 | 66.1 | 23.0 |
| 210 | Haiti | 37.2 | 65.5 | 28.2 |
| 211 | Angola | 35.9 | 65.2 | 29.3 |
| 212 | Guinea-Bissau | 35.7 | 64.6 | 28.9 |
| 213 | Eswatini | 43.4 | 64.5 | 21.1 |
| 214 | Cameroon | 33.1 | 64.5 | 31.4 |
| 215 | Equatorial Guinea | 40.1 | 64.3 | 24.2 |
| 216 | Madagascar | 39.7 | 64.3 | 24.6 |
| 217 | Kenya | 36.9 | 64.2 | 27.3 |
| 218 | Mozambique | 37.3 | 64.1 | 26.8 |
| 219 | Burundi | 40.9 | 64.1 | 23.2 |
| 220 | Zimbabwe | 49.4 | 63.6 | 14.2 |
| 221 | Togo | 41.9 | 63.3 | 21.4 |
| 222 | Liberia | 38.0 | 62.6 | 24.7 |
| 223 | Naoero | 56.6 | 62.6 | 6.0 |
| 224 | Côte d'Ivoire | 30.8 | 62.4 | 31.6 |
| 225 | DR Congo | 38.2 | 62.4 | 24.2 |
| 226 | Sierra Leone | 28.9 | 62.3 | 33.4 |
| 227 | Niger | 35.9 | 61.9 | 26.0 |
| 228 | Burkina Faso | 33.0 | 61.6 | 28.6 |
| 229 | Benin | 35.4 | 61.3 | 25.9 |
| 230 | Guinea | 35.6 | 61.2 | 25.6 |
| 231 | Mali | 28.7 | 61.1 | 32.4 |
| 232 | Somalia | 41.5 | 59.3 | 17.8 |
| 233 | Lesotho | 44.6 | 58.6 | 14.0 |
| 234 | Central African Republic | 35.4 | 58.2 | 22.7 |
| 235 | South Sudan | 30.2 | 58.0 | 27.8 |
| 236 | Chad | 35.2 | 55.6 | 20.4 |
| 237 | Nigeria | 35.5 | 55.0 | 19.4 |
Life expectancy of at least 80 years has become much more widespread. There are now 61 countries and territories at that level, compared with none in 1950.
The U.S. has experienced a substantial drop in the rankings. In 1950, it ranked 15th at 68.1 years. By 2026, it had fallen to 64th, despite life expectancy rising to 79.8 years.
Its gain of just 11.7 years is the sixth-smallest among all 237 countries and territories. Canada, which started at a similar level in 1950, has gained 14.8 years and now ranks 26th at 83.1 years.
Where Life Expectancy Grew the Most Since 1950
Global life expectancy has risen from 46.4 years to 73.8 years since 1950, a gain of 27.4 years. Vaccination has helped more children survive, and a WHO-led study found that immunization reduced infant deaths by 40% between 1974 and 2024.
South Korea recorded the largest gain, rising from 22.2 years to 84.6 years. Its starting point coincided with the outbreak of the Korean War, and it has since climbed from second-to-last to fifth among the world’s longest-living countries.
Gulf oil states account for four of the 10 largest gains, including Oman, where life expectancy rose from 29.3 to 80.7 years. The UN credits Oman’s investment of energy earnings in education and public health as a driver of its development gains.
All 10 lowest-ranked countries and territories are in sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria last at 55.0 years and Chad just above it at 55.6.
Child mortality remains a major factor. About one in 10 Nigerian children die before their fifth birthday, compared with roughly two in 1,000 in Japan, according to the UN’s projections for 2026.
The historical comparison is striking: despite gaining 19.4 years since 1950, Nigeria’s life expectancy in 2026 remains below the 59.3 years Japan had already reached in 1950.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Countries With the Biggest Gains in Life Expectancy on Voronoi.