Life Expectancy by Country (World Rankings)

Global life expectancy varies by more than 35 years between the longest- and shortest-lived countries. Geography, income, healthcare systems, diet, smoking rates, and conflict all shape where a country lands. But within any country, individual choices remain powerful. If you want a personal estimate that shows how habits stack, start with our life expectancy calculator.

Life Expectancy by Country — Full Rankings

Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain). Figures reflect the most recently available estimates; check the CIA World Factbook for updates.

What Countries Have the Highest Life Expectancy?

Monaco, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, and Australia commonly sit near the top of global rankings. While each has unique demographics and geography, high-performing countries often share a few themes: broad access to healthcare, strong preventive care, and lower rates of smoking. Dietary patterns also matter — Mediterranean-style eating in parts of Europe and traditional Asian diets tend to emphasize fish, vegetables, legumes, and smaller portions of ultra-processed foods. Many of these places also support healthier defaults through walkable environments, public transit, and social cohesion that reduces isolation over time.

Common threads

Across top-ranked countries, the biggest repeatable patterns are prevention-first healthcare, lower tobacco exposure, and environments that make daily movement easier. Those systems compound for decades, shifting population averages upward.

Why Does the United States Rank Lower Than Expected?

The United States ranks around the mid-30s in many recent estimates despite being one of the wealthiest nations. The drivers are not “willpower” — they’re systems-level: higher obesity rates, higher firearms mortality, uneven preventive care access due to a fragmented healthcare system, opioid-related deaths, and a higher chronic disease burden. Fewer paid sick days can also reduce routine care and early intervention. None of this is a verdict on any individual. If you want to see how your habits affect your personal estimate, use our life expectancy calculator.

What Drives the Gap Between the Highest and Lowest Countries?

The difference between the top and bottom countries is shaped by extreme poverty, conflict, and infectious disease burden — especially in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Access to clean water and consistent nutrition, maternal and child health services, and basic primary care all have outsized effects on population averages. Where HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and preventable childhood illness are more common, mortality is pulled earlier in life, lowering national life expectancy. The hopeful part is that these gaps have narrowed dramatically over the past 50 years as vaccines, sanitation, and treatment access have expanded.

How Your Personal Choices Compare to Country-Level Trends

Country averages are population statistics — they don’t define your ceiling. A non-smoking, regularly exercising American with good sleep and preventive care can outlive the average person in many higher-ranked countries. The national average is a floor, not a ceiling. Start with our life expectancy calculator and explore practical strategies in how to live longer.

FAQ

Data Sources

CIA World Factbook (public domain)

Related: see life expectancy by state and life expectancy differences between men and women.