How Long Do People Live Around the World in 2026?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Credit: Niccolo Conte