- Monaco has the world’s highest life expectancy at 86.5 years.
- Nigeria and Chad sit at the bottom of the global ranking, with averages below 56 years.
- Women outlive men in every country, with an average gap of five years globally.
How long people live depends on far more than genetics, with access to healthcare, diet, infrastructure, and income levels all playing a role in shaping a nation’s life expectancy.
This infographic uses data from the United Nations to visualize average life expectancy around the world in 2025 across both sexes.
At the top of the list are small, wealthy nations and developed economies in East Asia and Europe, while developing nations in Sub-Saharan Africa make up the bottom of the list. Globally, the average life expectancy is 73.4 years.
Among major economies, Australia (84.1), South Korea (84.4), and Italy (83.9) lead globally, while the United States lags behind at 79.5 years, ranking outside the top 40.
Across all countries, women live longer than men—by an average of five years globally. In Russia, the gap reaches nearly 12 years, wider than any other country.
Where Life Expectancy Is Lowest
At the other end of the scale, life expectancy in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa remains under 60 years. Nigeria ranks lowest with the average person expected to live 54.6 years, followed by Chad (55.2), and the Central African Republic (57.7) rank among the world’s lowest.
Many of these countries face ongoing challenges—limited access to healthcare, malnutrition, and high infant mortality.
Globally, life expectancy continues to climb, but the gap between the longest- and shortest-living populations remains wide, with over 30 years between Monaco and Nigeria.
As developing economies invest in healthcare and education, that gap could narrow. In rich nations, however, lifestyle-related diseases such as heart disease and diabetes pose challenges to further gains in longevity.
Credit: Visual Capitalist
