Global life expectancy nearly back to pre-pandemic level, WHO says
This story has been updated: Update: WHO estimates show longer lives, more deaths from chronic disease and dementia Oct. 4, 2026
Oct. 2, 2026 — Global life expectancy reached 73.3 years in 2023, nearly recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and just short of the 73.4 years recorded in 2019, according to the World Health Organization's latest Global Health Estimates. Healthy life expectancy recovered more slowly, to 62.8 years, still 0.4 years below its 2019 level, the agency said.
The wall: Regional and country estimates were not given in UN News' account.
Tier: Reported (based on UN News' account of WHO's estimates)
Corrections
- Corrected Oct. 3, 2026: the notes on what this story is based on and what remains unknown were revised for clarity. The facts are unchanged.
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