WHO estimates put global life expectancy at 73.3 years, almost back to the pre-pandemic level
2 October 2026
The World Health Organization released its Global Health Estimates covering the years 2000 to 2023.
Global life expectancy stood at 73.3 years in 2023, against 73.4 years in 2019.
Healthy life expectancy was 62.8 years in 2023, still 0.4 years below the 2019 figure.
Noncommunicable diseases caused 74 per cent of all deaths in 2023, up from 58 per cent in 2000, and eight of the ten leading causes of death were noncommunicable diseases.
Ischaemic heart disease remained the single largest killer with about 9.5 million deaths and 210 million disability-adjusted life years in 2023.
Dementia moved up to fifth place among causes of death from nineteenth in 2000.
The age-standardised burden of depressive disorders rose by about 20 per cent and of anxiety disorders by about 45 per cent between 2019 and 2023.
In plain words
DALY Disability-Adjusted Life Year — One DALY is one year of healthy life lost, counting both early death and years lived in poor health.
NCD Noncommunicable disease — A disease that is not passed from person to person, such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes.