Countries with the Highest Life Expectancy (Ranked)

Japan's women live to an average of 87.7 years. That figure — the longest female life expectancy ever measured in a large sovereign nation — represents one of the most remarkable achievements in human biology and public health. It means that a girl born in Japan today can expect to outlive her counterpart born in the United States by nearly six years, and outlive someone born in sub-Saharan Africa by as many as twenty. Life expectancy is the single most comprehensive measure of a population's health, and the gap between the world's longest-lived and shortest-lived nations is among the most consequential inequalities on earth. The countries at the top of this ranking did not get there by accident: they got there through decades of policy, culture, diet, and the particular social environments that allow human bodies to survive and function for longer.

This ranking covers the combined life expectancy figure for both sexes; for a female-specific breakdown, see Countries Where Women Live the Longest.

Methodology

Q: How is national life expectancy calculated? A: Life expectancy at birth is calculated from period life tables, which use a country's age-specific mortality rates for a given year to estimate how long a newborn would live if current mortality patterns remained constant throughout their life. It is a synthetic cohort measure — not a prediction of how long today's newborns will actually live, but a snapshot of mortality conditions at a specific moment. Data here are drawn from United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 and the WHO Global Health Observatory, using 2023 data as the reference year unless otherwise noted. Because WHO data and UN data use slightly different methodologies and reference years, figures may differ by 0.1–0.5 years across sources.

Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects 2024 — https://population.un.org/wpp/

Top 20 countries by life expectancy at birth (2023)

Rank	Country / Territory	Overall (years)	Male	Female	Notes
1	Hong Kong (SAR)	85.5	82.8	88.1	Territory, not sovereign state; often excluded from country rankings
2	Japan	84.7	81.7	87.7	Highest for sovereign nations
3	South Korea	84.3	81.2	87.2	Rapid gains since 1960s
4	French Polynesia	84.1	81.8	86.5	Overseas collectivity
5	Andorra	84.0	82.1	86.1	Microstate; no standing army, high income
6	Switzerland	84.0	82.0	85.8	Consistently top performer
7	Australia	83.9	82.1	85.7	Universal healthcare; low inequality
8	Singapore	83.7	81.2	86.2	City-state; exceptional public health infrastructure
9	Italy	83.7	81.6	85.8	Mediterranean diet; strong family networks
10	Spain	83.7	81.0	86.3	Mediterranean diet; universal healthcare
11	France	83.3	80.4	86.1	Universal healthcare; wine paradox debated
12	Norway	83.3	81.8	84.9	High income equality; public healthcare
13	Sweden	83.3	81.4	85.1	Long welfare state history
14	Iceland	82.7	81.0	84.5	Small population; high social trust
15	Canada	82.6	80.4	84.8	Universal healthcare; multicultural
16	Israel	82.6	80.8	84.4	Strong community ties; Mediterranean diet
17	New Zealand	82.5	80.7	84.3	Universal healthcare; outdoor activity culture
18	Luxembourg	82.4	80.1	84.8	Highest GDP/capita in EU
19	Monaco	82.4	78.9	85.9	Microstate; extremely wealthy population
20	Ireland	82.3	80.2	84.5	Strong gains over past 30 years
—	United States	79.3	76.5	81.9	Below OECD average despite highest healthcare spending
—	United Kingdom	81.7	79.9	83.5	Below western European peers
—	World average	73.3	70.8	75.9	WHO estimate, 2023

Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects 2024, Table GEN/14 — https://population.un.org/wpp/

Source: WHO Global Health Observatory, Life Expectancy at Birth — https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/life-expectancy-at-birth-(years)

Where this data comes from

This ranking draws from two authoritative sources: the United Nations World Population Prospects 2024, which collects national vital statistics and demographic data reported by member states, and the WHO Global Health Observatory, which compiles life expectancy figures from national ministries of health and statistical offices. The data year is 2023 for most countries, though some nations report figures from 2021–2022 depending on when their most recent comprehensive national census or vital registration was completed. Life expectancy at birth is calculated from age-specific mortality rates derived from death registrations and population estimates; the methodology is standardized internationally but implementation varies slightly by country based on data quality and completeness of vital registration systems.

Historical context: how longevity changed in the twentieth century

In 1900, global average life expectancy was approximately 31 years. Not because most people died young — infant mortality was the dominant driver, and adults who survived childhood often lived into their 50s and 60s — but because child mortality was so devastating that it dragged the average down catastrophically. Diphtheria, smallpox, typhoid, cholera, and measles killed enormous proportions of children before age five. A child born in 1900 in England had roughly a one-in-five chance of dying before reaching their first birthday.

The transformation that followed was primarily driven by public health interventions, not medical treatment. Sanitation — clean water, sewage treatment, improved food handling — was responsible for a larger share of the mortality decline than antibiotics or vaccines in the early twentieth century. The development of municipal water treatment in the 1880s and 1890s in European and American cities produced rapid falls in waterborne disease mortality. Louis Pasteur's germ theory gave scientific grounding to practices that reformers had been advocating on empirical grounds for decades.

Vaccination accelerated the gains. Mass vaccination against smallpox in the 19th century and childhood vaccines against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, and polio in the 20th century each removed major causes of child death. The global eradication of smallpox in 1980 was the single greatest public health achievement in history, saving an estimated 2 million lives per year at the time of eradication.

By 1950, global average life expectancy had reached approximately 46 years. By 2000, it was 67 years. By 2019 — the final pre-COVID baseline — it had reached 73.1 years globally, up more than 6 years in two decades.

Source: WHO, Global Health Estimates 2019 — https://www.who.int/data/global-health-estimates

COVID-19 temporarily reversed these gains. WHO estimated that global average life expectancy fell by 1.8 years between 2019 and 2021 — the largest setback in half a century. Most countries have since partially or fully recovered, though some have not yet returned to pre-pandemic baselines.

Why Japan leads: the biology and culture of longevity

Japan's dominance in global life expectancy rankings is not a recent phenomenon. Japan crossed into the top five for female life expectancy in the 1970s and has led the global ranking for women continuously since the 1980s. Understanding why requires examining multiple factors simultaneously.

Diet: the traditional Japanese food pattern. The traditional Japanese diet is low in saturated fat, high in fish, vegetables, fermented foods, and complex carbohydrates, and consumed in moderate quantities. Fish consumption delivers omega-3 fatty acids associated with cardiovascular protection. Seaweed consumption provides iodine and antioxidants. Fermented foods — miso, natto, pickles — support gut microbiome diversity. Portion control is culturally embedded: the Okinawan concept of hara hachi bu ("eat until 80% full") is associated with caloric restriction without hunger, a pattern consistently linked to longevity in laboratory and epidemiological research.

Crucially, the traditional Japanese diet is low in red meat and highly processed foods. Japan's rates of colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease, and obesity-related illness are substantially below Western averages. Japanese obesity rates are approximately 4% — the lowest among OECD countries — compared to 36% in the United States.

Healthcare system access. Japan's universal healthcare system provides coverage to the entire population through a combination of employee-based and national health insurance. Out-of-pocket costs are capped, and access to primary care is geographically widespread. Japan has more MRI and CT scanners per capita than any other country — which supports early detection of cancer and cardiovascular disease, the two leading causes of death.

Social cohesion and low inequality. Japan has one of the lowest Gini coefficients (income inequality measures) among developed economies. Research from multiple directions — including Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett's landmark work in "The Spirit Level" — associates lower inequality with better health outcomes at the population level. High social cohesion reduces stress, improves mental health, and encourages health-promoting behaviors.

Low violence and accident rates. Japan has a homicide rate of approximately 0.2 per 100,000 — among the lowest in the world. Road traffic fatalities have declined dramatically and are now well below the OECD average. These factors, while not individually dominant, contribute measurably to life expectancy at the population level.

Source: OECD Health at a Glance 2023, Chapter 4: Health Status — https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/health-at-a-glance-2023_7a7afb35-en

Why Switzerland and Nordic countries rank so highly

Switzerland consistently ranks in the top six globally for both male and female life expectancy. Unlike Japan, Switzerland's longevity advantage does not rest primarily on diet — Swiss food culture includes substantial red meat and dairy consumption that would not qualify as "longevity foods" by conventional metrics. Instead, Switzerland's performance reflects a different combination of factors:

Wealth and its direct health effects. Switzerland has one of the world's highest GDP per capita figures. Wealth translates into better housing, cleaner environments, less physical strain from work, better nutrition options, and — critically — better access to healthcare. Switzerland's mandatory universal health insurance system (Krankenkasse) ensures near-universal access, though it is more expensive for individuals than most European systems.

Low pollution and natural environment. Swiss air quality is among Europe's best. Environmental pollution — particulate matter, industrial chemicals, contaminated water — is an underappreciated contributor to chronic disease and shortened lifespan. Switzerland's strict environmental regulation and predominantly clean-energy infrastructure (largely hydroelectric) reduces this burden.

High physical activity baseline. Swiss adults walk, cycle, and hike at rates substantially above the OECD average. Geographic terrain and urban design both encourage movement. Physical activity is one of the most robustly established determinants of longevity in epidemiological research.

Norway, Sweden, and Finland all demonstrate similar patterns: strong public healthcare systems, high incomes, low inequality, clean environments, and culturally embedded physical activity. The Nordic welfare state model — which provides comprehensive social security from birth through old age — removes many of the stress-related chronic disease risks that reduce life expectancy in more economically precarious societies.

What separates top-ranked nations from the rest

The countries that consistently occupy the top 20 positions share several overlapping characteristics that are increasingly recognized by longevity researchers as determinative across different cultures and geographies. First, all have achieved or nearly achieved universal healthcare coverage — whether through mandatory insurance (Switzerland, Germany), national systems (Spain, Italy), or government-provided care (Nordic countries). This ensures that healthcare access is not rationed by wealth, reducing the burden of untreated disease on population health. Second, all have relatively low income inequality as measured by Gini coefficients below 0.30 — a threshold consistently associated with better health outcomes in peer-reviewed research, particularly for cardiovascular disease and mental health outcomes. Third, all have invested in food security and nutrition infrastructure, reducing malnutrition-related mortality and enabling dietary patterns that favor plant-based, lower-processed-food consumption. Fourth, all have low rates of violence and homicide, which individually contribute measurably to life expectancy when aggregated across millions of people. The commonality across these factors is not wealth alone — Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are wealthier than Spain or Japan but show lower life expectancies, likely because healthcare systems and income equality lag behind wealth accumulation. Instead, the pattern suggests that longevity is determined by how equitably a high-income society distributes its resources across healthcare, education, and social security.

The male-female gap: a biological and behavioral divide

Across every country in the top 20, women live longer than men. The gap varies: in France it is 5.7 years (80.4 for men, 86.1 for women); in Norway it is just 3.1 years (81.8 for men, 84.9 for women). Understanding why requires separating biological from behavioral factors.

Biological factors appear to provide women with a baseline longevity advantage. Estrogen has cardioprotective effects that reduce cardiovascular disease risk in premenopausal women. Women's immune systems are more robust — they respond more strongly to infections and vaccines — which may contribute to lower infectious disease mortality. Women's cells may also age more slowly; telomere length studies suggest female cells maintain longer telomeres (associated with cellular aging) than male cells of equivalent chronological age.

Behavioral factors substantially amplify the biological gap. Men smoke more, drink more alcohol, eat more red meat, take more occupational risks, engage in more physical violence, and are less likely to seek medical care for symptoms. The behavioral contribution is demonstrable from natural experiments: in countries where gender differences in smoking have narrowed — such as Iceland and Norway — the male-female life expectancy gap has also narrowed. In Japan, the gap between male and female life expectancy has gradually closed as women's smoking rates increased (from negligible levels) and men's declined.

The male-female gap is largest in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet states, where male behavioral risk factors — particularly heavy alcohol consumption and smoking — are most extreme. Russia's male life expectancy is approximately 67 years against a female life expectancy of 78 years — an 11-year gap that reflects a public health crisis rather than any biological predisposition.

Source: WHO, World Health Statistics 2024 — https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240094703

The United States anomaly

The United States spends more on healthcare per capita than any other country in the world — approximately $12,500 per person per year as of 2022, nearly double the OECD average. Yet US life expectancy at 79.3 years is below the OECD average of approximately 80.3 years, and substantially below peers like Japan, Switzerland, Australia, and Canada.

This divergence is one of the most studied puzzles in health economics. Researchers have identified several contributing factors:

High rates of obesity and related disease. The US obesity rate of approximately 36% is the highest in the OECD and drives elevated rates of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, and certain cancers — all of which reduce life expectancy. Diet quality in the United States has declined substantially over the past 50 years, with ultra-processed foods now comprising more than 60% of caloric intake in the average US diet.

Firearm mortality. The US firearm death rate of approximately 13 per 100,000 population is dramatically higher than any peer nation. Gun violence — both homicide and suicide — removes years from the US life expectancy calculation at the population level.

Drug overdose mortality. The opioid epidemic has killed more than 500,000 Americans since 1999. Drug overdose deaths disproportionately affect working-age adults (25–54), the age group where death most dramatically reduces life expectancy calculations.

Unequal healthcare access. Despite enormous healthcare spending, the United States lacks universal coverage. Uninsured and underinsured populations receive less preventive care, more late-stage disease diagnoses, and more financial stress from medical bills — all associated with worse health outcomes.

Racial health disparities. US life expectancy data masks dramatic disparities by race. Black Americans have an average life expectancy approximately four years shorter than white Americans, and Native American and Alaska Native populations show even larger gaps, reflecting the compounding effects of historical inequity, environmental injustice, and differential access to care.

Source: Commonwealth Fund, Mirror Mirror 2023 — https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2023/jan/mirror-mirror-2023

Blue Zones: the geography of extraordinary longevity

Researcher Dan Buettner, working with National Geographic and subsequently formalized through a partnership with the National Institute on Aging, identified five geographic areas where populations live measurably longer than national averages — so-called "Blue Zones":

Sardinia, Italy: Specifically the Barbagia region. High concentration of male centenarians, attributed to mountainous terrain (physical activity), strong family bonds, moderate red wine consumption, plant-heavy diet.

Okinawa, Japan: Before 1970, Okinawa had the highest concentration of centenarians in the world. The traditional Okinawan diet is heavily plant-based, rich in sweet potato and tofu, and extremely low in calories. The social network structure (moai — small groups of lifelong friends who share resources and support) is thought to reduce stress. (Note: Okinawa's longevity advantage has eroded since the introduction of Western fast food post-WWII US occupation.)

Loma Linda, California, USA: A community of Seventh-day Adventists. Adventists are vegetarian or near-vegetarian, avoid alcohol and tobacco for religious reasons, exercise regularly, and maintain strong community ties. Studies show Adventists live 4–7 years longer than other Californians.

Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica: Despite relatively low income, Nicoyans show low rates of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Diet centers on beans, corn tortillas, and squash. Strong family and faith community ties characterize the region.

Ikaria, Greece: A Greek island where residents have approximately 20% lower rates of cancer, 50% lower rates of heart disease, and nearly zero dementia compared to US averages. Diet follows traditional Mediterranean patterns.

The Blue Zone research has been criticized methodologically — self-reported age in some regions may be unreliable, and selection effects are difficult to control — but the broad patterns are consistent with other longevity research: plant-forward diet, moderate caloric intake, regular movement, low stress, and strong social bonds appear across all five zones.

Source: Buettner D, "The Blue Zones Solution," National Geographic Society, 2015 — https://www.nationalgeographic.com/blue-zones/

Frequently asked questions

Q: Does Monaco really have one of the world's highest life expectancies? A: Yes, though with important caveats. Monaco is a microstate of approximately 38,000 people, many of whom are extremely wealthy. High income correlates strongly with longevity, and Monaco's population is heavily filtered toward affluent adults. Monaco's life expectancy figures (approximately 82–87 years depending on the source and year) reflect this demographic selection rather than any unique environmental or cultural factor. For meaningful comparisons, sovereign nations with diverse populations — Japan, Switzerland, Spain — are more instructive.

Q: Why does the United States rank so far below its healthcare spending level? A: The US spends approximately twice the OECD average on healthcare per person but achieves below-average life expectancy. The explanation is not healthcare quality — US hospitals and specialists are among the world's best — but healthcare access, lifestyle factors (obesity, firearms, opioids), and inequality. High spending on expensive interventions for advanced disease cannot compensate for widespread preventable chronic disease driven by diet, inactivity, and substance use.

Q: Is life expectancy still increasing globally? A: Yes, though the rate of increase slowed after COVID-19 temporarily reversed gains in 2020–2021. Most countries recovered to or near pre-pandemic levels by 2023. Long-term trends point to continued but slower gains: the lowest-hanging fruit of childhood disease reduction has largely been achieved in most countries, and further gains require addressing the harder problems of chronic disease, inequality, and aging population health.

Q: What is healthy life expectancy (HALE) and how does it differ? A: Healthy life expectancy (HALE) estimates years lived in good health — free from serious disease or disability — rather than total years lived. Japan's HALE is approximately 75 years, meaning the average Japanese person lives around 10 years with significant health limitations before death. HALE is increasingly important because extending total lifespan without extending healthy lifespan creates large elderly populations requiring intensive care. Japan faces this challenge more acutely than any other country.

Q: How much of life expectancy is genetic versus environmental? A: Twin studies and genetic research consistently find that inherited genetics accounts for approximately 20–30% of variation in individual lifespan; environment, behavior, and social factors account for 70–80%. This means that most of the longevity gap between nations is potentially modifiable through policy, behavior, and social change. Genetic predispositions interact with environment — Japanese genetic variants may contribute to lower obesity risk, but Japanese living in the United States experience life expectancy closer to the US norm than the Japanese norm.

The takeaway

The countries with the highest life expectancy share a recognizable cluster of characteristics: universal or near-universal healthcare access, low inequality, clean environments, physically active populations, and diets lower in ultra-processed food than the global average. Japan, Switzerland, Spain, Australia, and the Nordic nations have arrived at this cluster through different historical paths — some through welfare-state policy, some through traditional diet, some through cultural norms around physical activity — but the destination looks similar. The United States demonstrates the opposite lesson: enormous spending on healthcare cannot compensate for population-level behavioral risks and unequal access to care. The biology of longevity is not mysterious, but implementing it at national scale requires political choices that not every society has been willing to make.

Sources

• United Nations, World Population Prospects 2024 — https://population.un.org/wpp/
• WHO Global Health Observatory, Life Expectancy at Birth — https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/life-expectancy-at-birth-(years)
• WHO, Global Health Estimates 2019 — https://www.who.int/data/global-health-estimates
• WHO, World Health Statistics 2024 — https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240094703
• OECD Health at a Glance 2023 — https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/health-at-a-glance-2023_7a7afb35-en
• Commonwealth Fund, Mirror Mirror 2023 — https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2023/jan/mirror-mirror-2023

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