New Report: Global Life Expectancy Over 20 Years Higher Than 1950 Levels

The latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, published on The Lancet's website on the 12th, indicates that the global age-standardized all-cause mortality rate is declining, with global life expectancy in 2023 being over 20 years higher than in 1950.

The study, led by Dr. Christopher Murray, Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, in collaboration with the Global Burden of Disease Collaborator Network comprising over 16,000 researchers worldwide, collected and analyzed data from 1990 to 2023. It assessed 375 diseases and injuries and 88 risk factors across 204 countries and territories.

The report found that compared to 1950, all 204 countries and territories covered reported a decline in mortality rates, with the age-standardized death rate falling by 67%. In 2023, global life expectancy was approximately 76.3 years for women and 71.5 years for men, over 20 years higher than the 1950 figures. However, significant regional disparities persist. Life expectancy in high-income regions is around 83 years, compared to just 62 years in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The report states that global infant and child deaths have declined substantially. From 2011 to 2023, the under-5 mortality rate in East Asia fell by 68%, the largest decline, attributed to improved nutrition, vaccination programs, and stronger health systems. Conversely, mortality rates among younger populations globally show an increasing trend. In North America and Latin America, rising mortality among adolescents and young adults is primarily due to suicide, drug overdose, and alcohol abuse. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the increase is mainly attributed to infectious diseases and unintentional injuries.

Murray noted that the rapid growth of the global aging population and evolving risk factors have ushered in a new era of global health challenges. The evidence from the GBD report serves as an alarm, urging government and health sector leaders to respond promptly to these trends that are reshaping public health needs.