Countries by Life Expectancy at Birth 2026

About This Dataset

Countries ranked by average life expectancy at birth in 2026, combining male and female figures, according to WHO Global Health Observatory and UN Population Division estimates. Japan has led global life expectancy rankings for decades — a longevity record attributed to a combination of dietary patterns centred on fish, vegetables, and fermented foods with low saturated fat consumption, universal healthcare coverage with high utilisation rates for preventive screening, strong social cohesion and purpose in later life reflected in the concept of ikigai, and among the lowest obesity rates of any high-income nation. Japan's challenge, however, is that its extraordinary longevity has produced one of the world's most severe demographic ageing crises.

✨ AI Insight

Japan continues to lead the world in life expectancy at birth with 84.3 years, a testament to its effective healthcare system and cultural practices promoting health and longevity. Switzerland and Singapore follow closely with 84.0 and 83.9 years, respectively, indicating that high-income countries tend to have better health outcomes. However, the gap between Japan and the next highest countries is minimal, suggesting that these nations are also making significant strides in healthcare and lifestyle improvements. Interestingly, while countries like Sweden and Italy show respectable life expectancies of 82.8 and 83.2 years, they still lag behind the leaders, highlighting disparities in health systems and lifestyle factors across different regions.

Source: Wikipedia

Key Findings

Auto-computed highlights from this dataset

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Japan leads with 84 in 2026.

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Average value in 2026: 84 · median: 83.

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Gap in 2026: Japan is 1× larger than Sweden.