Life Expectancy: Going Up

Life expectancy increased by five years between 2000 and 2015, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Although there was an increase in global life expectancy, WHO did find major inequalities in certain parts of the world.

For children born in 2015, the global life expectancy was found to be 71.4 years. However, this expectancy may depend on where the person is born. While the average life expectancy may be 80 years or more in several countries, 22 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have a life expectancy of less than 60 years, according to the new report.

The report also found that women in Japan are expected to live the longest, with an average lifespan of 86.8 years.

And men who call Switzerland their home can expect the longest average survival, at an average of 81.3 years.

On the other end of the spectrum, those who live in Sierra Leone are expected to have the lowest life-expectancy for both males and females.

With these statistics, health-related targets within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be determined. According to WHO, the SDGs include a broad health goal of “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” In addition, they call for attaining universal health coverage.