15 Countries With the Highest Life Expectancy (2024 Data)
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The secret to living a longer life may be based on what country you call home.
World Bank data for 2024 show that people in Switzerland (84.4 years), Australia (83.1), France (83.0) and Canada (82.1) can expect to live years longer than people in the United States (78.9). Costa Rica (81.0) also outlives the US, while Thailand (76.6) and Mexico (75.3) trail it.
This ranking uses life expectancy at birth for 2024 from the World Bank's World Development Indicators, which draws on the UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Among the 160 countries and territories with at least 1 million people, the United States ranks 41st, at 78.9 years. Counting all 217 economies the World Bank covers, including microstates such as Monaco and San Marino, the US ranks 61st. You can browse the full data here.
The country with the shortest life expectancy is Nigeria, at 54.6 years. Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), a small, landlocked country of about 1.2 million people in southern Africa, had the shortest when this list was first published, at under 49 years, and has since risen to 64.3.
So, which countries and territories have the longest life expectancy in the world? Keep reading to see which one has a life expectancy of longer than 85 years.
15. France
Can the secret to a longer life be in France's wine, cheese, art and fashion? The answer is more likely rooted in the French health care system, which all residents are entitled to. Nearly 69 million people call this European country home, and French people, on average, live to be 83 years old.
14. Ireland
Known for its green countryside, rugged Atlantic coastline and lively pubs, Ireland is new to this list. About 5.4 million people live in Ireland, where life expectancy is 83.0 years.
13. Australia
Often called the island continent, Australia is known for outdoor living. Located southeast of Indonesia, Australia is best known for the Great Barrier Reef. More than 27 million people live in this country in Oceania, where life expectancy is 83.1 years.
12. United Arab Emirates
About 11 million people live in the United Arab Emirates, a federation of seven emirates that includes Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Most residents are foreign nationals, and life expectancy is 83.1 years.
11. Norway
The land of mountains, glaciers and fjords is a natural paradise for those who love being active outdoors. Norway is known for fishing, hiking and skiing, along with a history of Vikings. This Scandinavian country is home to about 5.6 million people, who can expect to live 83.2 years.
10. Israel
Known as the biblical Holy Land to Jews, Christians and Muslims, Israel is a Middle Eastern country bordering the Mediterranean Sea. About 10 million people live in Israel, where life expectancy is 83.2 years.
9. Singapore
This island off southern Malaysia is known for its 6 million inhabitants creating a mix of cultures. The diverse cultural influences from Malaysia, China, Indonesia and India in this city-state are what make Singapore so unique. Life expectancy in Singapore is 83.3 years.
8. South Korea
South Korea (the Republic of Korea) has a life expectancy of 83.6 years and about 51.8 million people. The peninsula was split into Soviet and US occupation zones in 1945, and two separate states were founded in 1948. Life expectancy in North Korea is far lower, at 73.7 years.
7. Spain
You know that exhaustion that hits you right after lunchtime? Well, the Spanish do too. That's why many opt for a daily nap, called the siesta. More than 48.8 million people call Spain home. They can expect to live 83.9 years and are known for enjoying food, music and bullfights.
6. Italy
The Italians have been embracing music, food, architecture and all things culture for centuries on this peninsula along the Mediterranean. About 59 million people live in Italy, where life expectancy is 84.0 years and healthcare is considered a right. In the World Health Organization's World Health Report 2000, the last time WHO ranked national health systems, Italy placed second overall. You can read about the report here.
5. Japan
This island nation in the Pacific Ocean is home to skyscrapers, pop culture, bullet trains, imperial palaces, mountainous parks and dense cities. Even with a massive population of about 124 million people, this country in East Asia ranks No. 5 on the list, at 84.0 years. Much of the credit goes to diet. The traditional Japanese diet consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish. Learn more about the healthy lifestyle in Japan in this article: 6 Longevity Lessons From Japan.
4. Sweden
Another Scandinavian nation on the list, Sweden is known for thousands of coastal islands. Even the capital, Stockholm, is built on 14 islands. The Swedish culture is known for being calm, soft and humble, and Swedes can expect to live 84.1 years.
3. Switzerland
Home to ski resorts, Swiss watches, chocolate and the Alps, Switzerland's residents live to about 84 years old (84.4). Basic health insurance is compulsory for everyone living in Switzerland. For comparison, 8.0 percent of Americans, about 27.1 million people, had no health insurance at any point in 2024.
2. Kuwait
About 4.9 million people live in this Gulf state at the northern end of the Persian Gulf, where life expectancy is 84.6 years. Like the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait is home to a large foreign workforce, which shapes its population figures.
1. Hong Kong
Among places with at least 1 million people, the highest life expectancy, at 85.4 years, is in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China. About 7.5 million people live in this densely populated region, where Western and Eastern cultures collide. Even though air pollution poses health risks, Hong Kong's safety net includes its government-run public hospitals.
Just missed the list: Canada (82.1 years) now ranks 22nd among places with at least 1 million people. Luxembourg (83.2) and Iceland (82.8) have fewer than 1 million residents, so they fall outside this ranking.
Source: World Bank, Life expectancy at birth, total (years), 2024 data from UN World Population Prospects 2024. Population: World Bank, Population, total, 2024. Ranking includes countries and territories with at least 1 million people.
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