The Ledger · Entry 07
A person born today can expect to live far longer
Life expectancy at birth, worldwide, in years
Data: Our World in Data, based on UN World Population Prospects and others
A global life expectancy in the twenties does not mean people dropped dead at thirty; it means so many children died that the average was dragged down hard. As child deaths fell and adults gained decades from clean water, medicine, and better food, the average more than doubled.
The key rows
It is not a straight line. The pandemic pulled the number down in 2021 before it recovered, and the long trend still rises.
Asked often
What is global life expectancy?
About 73.2 years at birth as of the latest estimate, up from roughly 28.5 years in 1770.
Did life expectancy fall during the pandemic?
Yes. The global figure dipped to 70.9 years in 2021 during the pandemic, then recovered to 73.2 years, above its pre-pandemic level.
The world also got better today.
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