The significant increase in life expectancy over the past 75 years has largely been driven by reductions in infant and child mortality, and has seen life expectancy from birth increase by 27 years between 1950 and 2024. However, this is not the only driver of increased life expectancy, as humanity has also got much better at prolonging life for adults. In 1950, 65-year-olds could expect to live for another 11 years on average, while this has risen to almost 18 years in 2024.
The notable dips in life expectancy are due to China's Great Leap Forward around 1960, famine and conflict in Asia (especially Bangladesh) around 1970, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the early 2020s.
Annual global life expectancy at select ages from 1950 to 2022, with projections until 2100
Characteristic
From birth
Age 15
Age 65
Age 80
1950
46.5
62
76.3
85.02
1951
47.1
62.5
76.3
85.01
1952
48.2
63.3
76.6
85.14
1953
48.8
63.6
76.6
85.15
1954
49.6
64.1
76.8
85.26
1955
50.1
64.3
76.9
85.29
1956
50.6
64.6
76.9
85.28
1957
50.9
64.7
77
85.34
1958
51.5
65
77.2
85.45
1959
49.3
64.2
76.9
85.4
1960
47.7
63.5
76.7
85.37
1961
50.4
64.6
77.1
85.53
1962
53.1
65.7
77.4
85.54
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The source gives life expectancy figures as the number of remaining years, which have been converted to the expected age of mortality for display purposes. For example, life expectancy at age 15 in 1950 was given as 47 years, which is displayed as 62 years (15+47).
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UN DESA. (July 30, 2022). Annual global life expectancy at select ages from 1950 to 2022, with projections until 2100 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved March 14, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1460165/global-life-expectancy-by-age-historical/
UN DESA. "Annual global life expectancy at select ages from 1950 to 2022, with projections until 2100." Chart. July 30, 2022. Statista. Accessed March 14, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1460165/global-life-expectancy-by-age-historical/
UN DESA. (2022). Annual global life expectancy at select ages from 1950 to 2022, with projections until 2100. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: March 14, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1460165/global-life-expectancy-by-age-historical/
UN DESA. "Annual Global Life Expectancy at Select Ages from 1950 to 2022, with Projections until 2100." Statista, Statista Inc., 30 Jul 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1460165/global-life-expectancy-by-age-historical/
UN DESA, Annual global life expectancy at select ages from 1950 to 2022, with projections until 2100 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1460165/global-life-expectancy-by-age-historical/ (last visited March 14, 2025)
Annual global life expectancy at select ages from 1950 to 2022, with projections until 2100 [Graph], UN DESA, July 30, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1460165/global-life-expectancy-by-age-historical/
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