Life expectancy has returned almost to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, WHO reports

Global life expectancy has returned close to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, reaching 73.3 years in 2023, according to the latest global statistics published Friday by the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2019, the figure was 73.4 years, after falling to 71.5 years in 2021.

The report’s new finding is that the recovery is not equally rapid in the case of years lived in good health. In 2023, this figure reached 62.8 years, 0.4 years below the level recorded before the pandemic.

WHO considers the increase in longevity an important public health success, but warns that healthcare systems must be adapted to meet the needs of a population living longer. Between 2000 and 2023, the Region of the Americas recorded the largest increases in the risk of mortality and the loss of healthy life years, while the Western Pacific Region recorded a considerable decline.

The report also highlights the growing share of noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. These caused 74% of global deaths in 2023, compared with 58% in 2000. Also in 2023, communicable diseases accounted for less than half of deaths in low-income countries for the first time.

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