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The 15 countries with the highest life expectancy — and the 15 with the lowest

April 29, 2026
in News
The 15 countries with the highest life expectancy — and the 15 with the lowest
Buildings in Monaco.
Monaco has the highest life expectancy in the world. PhotoLondonUK/Shutterstock
  • Life expectancy varies across the world, largely due to environmental factors.
  • The World Bank Group ranked life expectancy in different countries around the world.
  • Monaco and San Marino reported the highest life expectancies, while Nigeria and Chad had the lowest.

Jeanne Calment was the oldest verified person to have ever lived, passing away at 122. She was born in 1875, just a decade after the US Civil War ended, and died in 1997, a year before Google launched.

Despite Calment’s extraordinary longevity, her home country, France, ranks just outside the top 20 countries for life expectancy. In some parts of the world, however, living past 100 years old is the norm.

The World Bank Group collected data through 2023 on life expectancy at birth by country. The data showed that Monaco and San Marino reported the highest life expectancies, while Nigeria and Chad had the lowest.

The countries ranked highest tend to be wealthier, with solid healthcare systems and lower rates of early-life mortality. Meanwhile, the countries with the lowest life expectancy often face challenges such as disease, malnutrition, and conflict.

The US ranked 48th in the data set, with an average life expectancy of 78.4 years.

The World Bank Group used statistics from sources such as the United Nations Population Division and Eurostat. Business Insider did not include autonomous regions and territories listed in the data.

See the 15 countries with the highest life expectancy, followed by the 15 with the lowest.

1. Monaco’s average life expectancy is 86.4 years.

Aerial view of Monaco.
Monte-Carlo, Monaco. Angela Cini/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Monaco is 84.4 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Monaco is 88.5 years.

2. San Marino’s average life expectancy is 85.7 years.

Republic of San Marino.
Republic of San Marino. Elen Marlen/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in San Marino is 84.2 years.

The average life expectancy for women in San Marino is 87.1 years.

3. Liechtenstein’s average life expectancy is 84.8 years.

Aerial view of homes in Vaduz, Liechtenstein.
Vaduz, Liechtenstein. RukiMedia/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Liechtenstein is 82.5.

The average life expectancy for women in Liechtenstein is 87.3.

4. Switzerland’s average life expectancy is 84.1 years.

Aerial view of Geneva, Switzerland.
Geneva, Switzerland. Collection Maykova/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Switzerland is 82.3 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Switzerland is 85.9 years.

5. Andorra’s average life expectancy is 84 years.

Aerial view of Andorra la Vella, Andorra.
Andorra la Vella, Andorra. trabantos/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Andorra is 82.1 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Andorra is 86.1 years.

5. Japan’s average life expectancy is 84 years. (Tie)

Buildings in Tokyo, Japan.
Tokyo, Japan. kazu8/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Japan is 81.1 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Japan is 87.1 years.

7. Spain’s average life expectancy is 83.9 years.

Buildings in Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona, Spain. Tupungato/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Spain is 81.2 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Spain is 86.7 years.

8. Italy’s average life expectancy is 83.7 years.

Boats on the water in front of buildings in Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy.
Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy. Yasonya/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Italy is 81.7 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Italy is 85.8 years.

9. Malta’s average life expectancy is 83.5 years.

People ride on water taxi boat in Valletta, Malta.
People ride on water taxi boat in Valletta, Malta. John Keeble/Getty Images

The average life expectancy for men in Malta is 81.8 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Malta is 85.3 years.

10. South Korea’s average life expectancy is 83.43 years.

Buildings in Seoul, South Korea.
Seoul, South Korea. CHALLA_81/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in South Korea is 80.6 years.

The average life expectancy for women in South Korea is 86.4 years.

11. Luxembourg’s average life expectancy is 83.4 years.

Houses in Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
Luxembourg, Luxembourg. Sina Ettmer Photography/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Luxembourg is 81.7 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Luxembourg is 85.1 years.

12. Sweden’s average life expectancy is 83.3 years.

Buildings with boats on the water in Stockholm, Sweden.
Stockholm, Sweden. Mistervlad/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Sweden is 81.7 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Sweden is 85 years.

13. Israel’s average life expectancy is 83.19 years.

Buildings in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Tel Aviv, Israel. ColorMaker/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Israel is 81 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Israel is 85.5 years.

14. Kuwait’s average life expectancy is 83.18 years.

Tall buildings in Kuwait City, Kuwait.
Kuwait City, Kuwait. Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Kuwait is 82.7 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Kuwait is 83.7 years.

15. Norway’s average life expectancy is 83.1 years.

Skyline in Oslo, Norway.
Oslo, Norway. elxeneize/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Norway is 81.6 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Norway is 84.7 years.

16. Nauru’s average life expectancy is 62.1 years.

Huts in Nauru.
A phospate loading station in Nauru. Robert Szymanski/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Nauru is 60.3 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Nauru is 64 years.

17. Côte d’Ivoire’s average life expectancy is 61.94 years.

Aerial view of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Agre guy thony roger/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Côte d’Ivoire is 60 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Côte d’Ivoire is 64.1 years.

18. The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s average life expectancy is 61.9 years.

Water in front of buildings in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Omri Eliyahu/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is 59.8 years.

The average life expectancy for women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is 64 years.

19. Sierra Leone’s average life expectancy is 61.8 years.

Buildings in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Freetown, Sierra Leone. Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Sierra Leone is 60.1 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Sierra Leone is 63.5 years.

20. Niger’s average life expectancy is 61.2 years.

Building in Niamey, Niger.
Niamey, Niger. BOULENGER Xavier/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Niger is 60.3 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Niger is 62.1 years.

21. Burkina Faso’s average life expectancy is 61.1 years.

Buildings in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. SIA KAMBOU/AFP via Getty Images

The average life expectancy for men in Burkina Faso is 58.9 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Burkina Faso is 63.2 years.

22. Benin’s average life expectancy is 60.77 years.

Cotonou, Benin.
Cotonou, Benin. sope Adelaja/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Benin is 59.3 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Benin is 62.2 years.

23. Guinea’s average life expectancy is 60.74 years.

Aerial view of Conakry, Guinea.
Conakry, Guinea. Flightseeing-Germany/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Guinea is 59.5 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Guinea is 61.9 years.

24. Mali’s average life expectancy is 60.4 years.

Bamako, Mali.
Bamako, Mali. DemarK/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Mali is 59 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Mali is 61.9 years.

25. Somalia’s average life expectancy is 58.8 years.

Mogadishu, Somalia.
Mogadishu, Somalia. Abdulkadir Hirabe/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Somalia is 56.4 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Somalia is 61.4 years.

26. South Sudan’s average life expectancy is 57.6 years.

Aerial view of Juba, South Sudan.
Juba, South Sudan. Frontpage/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in South Sudan is 54.6 years.

The average life expectancy for women in South Sudan is 60.6 years.

27. Central African Republic’s average life expectancy is 57.4 years.

Bangui, Central African Republic.
Bangui, Central African Republic AfrikImages Agency/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The average life expectancy for men in Central African Republic is 55.3 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Central African Republic is 59.3 years.

28. Lesotho’s average life expectancy is 57.35 years.

Maseru, Lesotho.
Maseru, Lesotho. Kabelo Ramatseliso/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Lesotho is 54.6 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Lesotho is 60 years.

29. Chad’s average life expectancy is 55.1 years.

N'Djamena, Chad.
N’Djamena, Chad. Bloomberg via Getty Images

The average life expectancy for men in Chad is 53.2 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Chad is 57 years.

30. Nigeria’s average life expectancy is 54.5 years.

Cityscape in Lagos, Nigeria.
Lagos, Nigeria. Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock

The average life expectancy for men in Nigeria is 54.2 years.

The average life expectancy for women in Nigeria is 54.7 years.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The post The 15 countries with the highest life expectancy — and the 15 with the lowest appeared first on Business Insider.

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