Life Expectancy Ranking: 35 Major Economies

What this ranking tells us

Headline ranking

Among the Group of Twenty (major-economy) economies, life expectancy at birth spans a range of 17.9 years as of 2023, according to the latest data from the World Bank. Japan occupies the top position with an average of 84.0 years, followed closely by Italy at 83.7 years and the Republic of Korea at 83.4 years. These three advanced economies consistently register some of the world's highest longevity metrics, reflecting decades of broad-based health system investment, favourable dietary patterns, and effective chronic disease management.

The mid-table is anchored by Australia (83.1 years), France (82.9 years), Canada (81.6 years), and the United Kingdom (81.2 years), all exceeding 81 years. Germany, at 80.5 years, sits at the upper boundary of the next tier, while Saudi Arabia (78.7 years) leads a group of upper-middle life expectancy nations that includes the United States (78.4 years) and the People's Republic of China (78.0 years). Argentina (77.4 years), Türkiye (77.2 years), and Brazil (75.8 years) follow, with Mexico (75.1 years) just above the 75-year threshold.

At the lower end of the 35 major economies distribution, the Russian Federation records 73.3 years, India reaches 72.0 years, Indonesia achieves 71.1 years, and South Africa reports 66.1 years. The gap between Japan's 84.0 years and South Africa's 66.1 years is nearly two decades, underscoring the divergent epidemiological and socioeconomic trajectories even within a forum built on economic coordination. South Africa is the sole major-economy member with a life expectancy below 70 years, a status that reflects a distinctive mortality profile shaped by both communicable and non-communicable disease burdens.

The median life expectancy across the 19 individual major economies stands near 78.5 years, meaning half of the economies reach at least 78.7 years (Saudi Arabia) and half fall below 78.4 years (United States). When the European Union aggregate is considered at 81.4 years, it would rank between Canada and the United Kingdom, highlighting how regional integration can help lift weaker performers within a bloc. Yet the focus here remains on national-level outcomes, where the full diversity of the 35 major economies is visible.

Historical trajectory

Decade-over-decade snapshots for the five highest-ranked major economies reveal both sustained gains and recent disruptions. Japan's life expectancy rose from 78.8 years in 1990 to 84.6 years in 2020, before retreating to 84.0 years in 2023 (World Bank, 2023). The decline between 2020 and 2023 is consistent with the temporary excess mortality caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately affected the elderly in Japan and temporarily reversed decades of steady improvement. Italy followed a similar path: from 77.0 years in 1990 to 82.2 years in 2020, then a notable rise to 83.7 years in 2023, suggesting a stronger post-pandemic rebound that may reflect both the waning of direct viral mortality and catch-up healthcare utilisation.

The most dramatic transformation is visible in the Republic of Korea, where life expectancy leaped from 71.6 years in 1990 to 83.4 years in 2020 and held steady at 83.4 years in 2023. An increase of 11.8 years over three decades is exceptional among high-income economies and mirrors Korea's rapid economic development, expansion of universal health insurance, and sharp reductions in infant and cardiovascular mortality. Australia recorded a more gradual path from 77.0 years (1990) to 83.2 years (2020), with a slight dip to 83.1 years in 2023, while France progressed from 76.6 years to 82.2 years by 2020 and further to 82.9 years in 2023, maintaining a stable upward trajectory throughout the pandemic period.

These five case studies illustrate that the post-2020 plateau or small declines were not uniform. Korea's flat reading and Italy's surge suggest that national health system resilience and the timing of pandemic waves played significant roles. It is methodologically important to note that life expectancy figures are period measures: a value for 2023 averages age-specific mortality rates prevailing in that single calendar year. They are sensitive to short-term shocks, and a decrease does not mean a newborn will live shorter lives, only that the mortality conditions of that year were more severe. Data revisions are common, particularly for the most recent year, where civil registration delays may affect the completeness of cause-of-death reporting.

Comparisons across decades also require caution because the World Bank's estimation methodology has evolved, incorporating updates from the United Nations Population Division and shifting data sources from modelled estimates toward more direct civil registration. Nonetheless, the broad upward march from 1990 to 2020 across all major-economy nations is unmistakable. Even South Africa, which suffered a catastrophic decline during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, has rebounded from a low of approximately 53 years in the early 2000s to 66.1 years in 2023, largely due to antiretroviral treatment scale-up.

What drives the spread

The 17.9-year gap between the highest and lowest major-economy life expectancies is rooted in a combination of economic structure, health system design, epidemiological transition, and risk-factor exposure. Income alone does not determine outcomes: the United States, with a gross domestic product per capita far exceeding that of Japan or Italy, ranks 11th, while Saudi Arabia and China are only slightly behind. What distinguishes the leaders is universal or near-universal health coverage, strong primary care networks, and low levels of key behavioural risk factors such as obesity and smoking.

Japan, Italy, and the Republic of Korea all have health systems that provide a broad benefit package with minimal financial barriers at the point of care. Japan's mandatory universal health insurance, Italy's Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, and Korea's National Health Insurance Service achieve high population coverage and emphasise preventive care. Alongside these institutional features, dietary patterns play a critical role: the traditional Japanese diet, rich in fish, vegetables, and fermented foods, and the Mediterranean diet prevalent in Italy are associated with lower cardiovascular mortality. Korea's nutritional transition, though more recent, is characterised by a retention of vegetable-heavy cuisine even as calorie intake rose.

For the bottom three economies, the picture is radically different. South Africa's life expectancy of 66.1 years is the result of a quadruple burden: a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, a rising toll from non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, interpersonal violence, and road traffic injuries. India and Indonesia face challenges that are more typical of lower-middle-income settings, including under-five mortality that remains above major-economy averages, ambient and household air pollution, incomplete immunisation coverage in some regions, and a nascent transition toward older-age chronic diseases without the infrastructure to manage them effectively. In India, life expectancy at 72.0 years masks considerable state-level heterogeneity; Kerala exceeds 75 years while Uttar Pradesh is several years below the national average, reflecting differences in literacy, sanitation, and public health spending.

Demographic composition is often cited but is not a direct driver: life expectancy is a period metric unaffected by the age structure itself. However, the pace of population ageing can influence public-sector resource allocation toward the elderly, potentially improving survival at older ages. In several major economies, notably Japan and Italy, the age-specific mortality improvements beyond age 65 have been a major contributor to gains. Policy choices regarding tobacco taxation, alcohol regulation, road safety standards, and urban design further shape the mortality landscape. Turkey's rise to 77.2 years, for instance, has been linked to expanded universal health coverage under the Health Transformation Program, while Russia's lag at 73.3 years reflects a high burden of alcohol-related harm and cardiovascular disease that has proven stubbornly persistent.

Notable outliers

Within the 35 major economies, the United States stands out as the most conspicuous outlier relative to economic peers. With a life expectancy of 78.4 years in 2023, the country lags behind every other high-income major-economy member, trailing Canada by 3.2 years and the United Kingdom by 2.8 years. Research from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics points to higher mortality from drug overdoses, firearm-related injuries, and maternal conditions, compounded by deep disparities in health insurance coverage and access. The U.S. also exhibits a higher prevalence of obesity than any other major-economy nation, which contributes to elevated cardiovascular and metabolic disease mortality.

In the opposite direction, the Republic of Korea's ascent from 71.6 years in 1990 to 83.4 years in 2023 represents one of the fastest improvements ever recorded for a large economy. Korea's success is frequently attributed to rapid economic growth that financed universal health coverage, high educational attainment that improved health literacy, and aggressive public health campaigns against smoking and stomach cancer. The country now outperforms Australia and France, a remarkable inversion of its original position. Meanwhile, South Africa remains an extreme outlier at the bottom, 5.0 years below Indonesia, the next-lowest nation. The impact of HIV/AIDS—though modulated by antiretroviral treatment—continues to keep life expectancy depressed relative to economic comparators such as Brazil and Mexico. The South African figure also reflects high mortality from interpersonal violence, which alone reduces life expectancy by an estimated two years according to the South African Medical Research Council.

Methodology and sources

All figures in this analysis are drawn from the World Bank's World Development Indicators database, 2023 revision. Life expectancy at birth is defined as the average number of years a newborn would live if subject to the age-specific mortality rates observed in that same year. The World Bank aggregates data reported by national statistical offices, civil registration systems, and demographic surveys, reconciling them with the United Nations Population Division's biennial World Population Prospects estimates to produce a consistent cross-country series.

The major-economy ranking presented here includes 19 sovereign countries; the European Union aggregate (81.4 years in 2023) is shown in the data block for reference but is not ranked as a separate country, as it represents a bloc and not a single national population. All values are for the year 2023, the most recent available at the time of compilation. Despite the World Bank's efforts, small discrepancies can arise from differences in reporting lags, vital registration completeness, and the modelling of under-reporting in settings where death registration is incomplete. Users should interpret the exact rank order within a narrow band (such as between Germany, Saudi Arabia, and the United States) with appropriate caution, recognising that measurement uncertainty can shift positions by one or two places.

Frequently asked questions

What is the latest major-economy life expectancy ranking by country in 2023?

The current ranking places Japan first (84.0 years), followed by Italy (83.7 years) and the Republic of Korea (83.4 years). The full descending order continues with Australia, France, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Saudi Arabia, the United States, China, Argentina, Türkiye, Brazil, Mexico, the Russian Federation, India, Indonesia, and South Africa. All values are sourced from the World Bank (2023). The European Union aggregate (81.4 years) is a separate entity not ranked among individual countries.

Which major-economy country has the highest life expectancy?

Japan leads the 35 major economies with a life expectancy of 84.0 years as of 2023 (World Bank). The country's longevity advantage is attributed to universal health coverage, a diet low in saturated fat and high in fish and vegetables, strong primary care networks, and high levels of physical activity among the elderly. Japan's figure declined from 84.6 years in 2020, largely due to excess mortality associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, but it remains above all other these major economies.

Why is South Africa's life expectancy so low compared to other major economies?

South Africa records a life expectancy of 66.1 years in 2023, the lowest within the 35 major economies and 17.9 years below Japan. The principal drivers are high mortality from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and interpersonal violence. Despite a successful national antiretroviral programme that has improved survival since the early 2000s, non-communicable diseases and injuries continue to exact a heavy toll. Road traffic deaths and maternal mortality remain elevated relative to economic peers such as Brazil or Mexico.

How has the United States' life expectancy ranking changed relative to other major-economy nations?

The United States, with 78.4 years in 2023, ranks 11th among individual major economies. Over the past three decades, its relative position has deteriorated: in 1990 the U.S. was closer to the top tier, but slower gains in longevity and a mid-2010s plateau widened the gap. High obesity prevalence, rising drug overdose deaths, firearm-related mortality, and fragmented healthcare access are commonly cited by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as contributing factors to its underperformance.

What explains the Republic of Korea's rapid improvement in life expectancy ranking?

The Republic of Korea's life expectancy climbed from 71.6 years in 1990 to 83.4 years in 2023, placing it third in the 35 major economies. This transformation was powered by rapid economic growth, the establishment of universal health insurance in 1989, enormous gains in infant survival, and public health initiatives targeting smoking and stomach cancer. Korea's health system prioritises accessible primary care and early screening, which helped maintain the longevity trajectory through the pandemic.

Are the 2023 life expectancy figures for major economies affected by COVID-19?

Yes, the 2023 data incorporate the residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, though in most major economies the sharp mortality spikes seen in 2020 and 2021 have partially receded. Japan's decline from 84.6 years in 2020 to 84.0 years in 2023 reflects this pattern, while Italy's rebound from 82.2 to 83.7 years suggests a stronger recovery. Life expectancy is a period measure sensitive to temporary shocks; path-forward estimates for future cohorts will depend on whether mortality conditions return to pre-pandemic trends.