Health

Study: Global Life Expectancy Hits 76.3 Years, But Youth Deaths Rise

Published OCT 13 2025

Story

Above: A group of elderly people in a community park in China on Feb. 14, 2025. Image credit: Cheng Xin/Getty Images

The Facts

According to the findings from the Global Burden of Disease study, global life expectancy in 2023 reached 76.3 years for females and 71.5 years for males, an increase of more than 20 years compared to 1950 levels, while the age-standardized mortality rate declined by 67% over the same period.
Daily Sabah
EurekAlert!
Healthdata on Youtube
The study published in The Lancet on Sunday also found that deaths among adolescents and young adults aged 20 to 39 increased in high-income North America from 2011 to 2023, a change primarily attributed to suicide, drug overdoses and excessive alcohol consumption.
CBC
EurekAlert!
Healthdata
The study also found that non-communicable diseases now account for nearly two-thirds of global mortality and morbidity. Ischemic heart disease, stroke and diabetes remained the three leading causes of death and disability worldwide in 2023.
EuroNews
News Medical
The Lancet
Mental health disorders experienced steep increases globally over the period. Anxiety disorders increased by 63% and depressive disorders increased by 26%, with sexual abuse and intimate partner violence identified as preventable contributors to the rise.
Politico
EurekAlert!
The Times of India
In 2023, nearly half of global mortality and morbidity was attributable to 88 modifiable risk factors; high systolic blood pressure, particulate matter pollution, smoking and high fasting plasma glucose were among the leading causes.
The Guardian
News Medical
Bioengineer.org
COVID-19 dropped from being the leading cause of death in 2021 to the 20th position in 2023, while life expectancy disparities persist. High-income regions averaged 83 years compared to 62 years in sub-Saharan Africa.
Health Policy Watch News
Daily Sabah
Healthdata

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

Remarkable global health achievements have reduced mortality rates 67% since 1950 across all 204 countries studied in this report. Life expectancy has increased by over 20 years, while deaths from infectious diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, and diarrheal diseases have sharply declined. Advanced modeling and comprehensive data from 310,000 sources demonstrate unprecedented progress.

Healthdata

Narrative B

Global health progress faces a dangerous crisis that signals widening inequities and mental health epidemics as death rates surge among young adults due to suicide, overdoses and alcohol abuse. International aid cuts threaten to unravel decades of progress in closing health gaps between rich and poor nations. Half of all deaths remain preventable through addressing modifiable risk factors like obesity and high blood pressure.

CNN

Metaculus Prediction

Editor's Note

This story currently has limited reporting from right-leaning sources. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our coverage as additional perspectives become available.