Global Life Expectancy Returns to Pre-Covid Levels - Global Health in 2023: Life Expectancy Rebounds, but Risks Persist
The global health landscape in 2023 presents a mix of encouraging and concerning trends. Top risk factors for health losses include high blood pressure, fine dust pollution, and smoking. Meanwhile, life expectancy has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, with men and women expected to gain an average of 4.9 and 4.2 years of life by 2050 respectively.
In Spain, men's life expectancy stands at 81.3 years as of 2024. Globally, life expectancy has risen significantly since 1950, with women's life expectancy increasing from 51.2 years to 76.3 years, and men's from 47.9 years to 71.5 years. However, the average life expectancy varies greatly worldwide, from around 83 years in high-income countries to about 62 years in African countries south of the Sahara.
Germany has seen a notable increase in life expectancy since 1990, with women's life expectancy rising from 78.62 years to 83.37 years, and men's from 72.14 years to 78.51 years. However, the country faces significant health challenges, with high blood pressure, smoking, and obesity being the greatest risk factors for impaired health and premature death in 2023. Despite overall mortality rates decreasing, there has been a rise in mortality among adolescents and young adults in North and South America due to suicide and substance and alcohol abuse.
The top causes of death in 2023 include ischemic heart diseases, stroke, COPD, lung infections, newborn diseases, Alzheimer's disease, lung cancer, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. As we look ahead, addressing the leading risk factors and causes of death will be crucial for improving global health and life expectancy.
