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life expectancy
Maps / 12 weeks ago
Global ageing trends: UN report reveals median age by region in 2025
The world’s population is ageing at an unprecedented pace, but this trend is far from uniform across different parts of the globe. According to the United Nations’ World Population Prospects 2024 (the UN’s latest population report), the median age – the age at which half the population is older and half younger – reached about 31 years globally in 2025. This is a sharp increase from around 22 years in 1950, reflecting decades of rising life expectancy and falling birth rates worldwide. However, a closer look at regional age comparison data reveals striking disparities: some regions remain very young, while others are greying rapidly. Below, we explore the median age by world region in 2025 and the historical trends since 1950.
World / 13 weeks ago
Women live longer than men and this is why
Women live longer than men nearly everywhere in the world. According to data compiled by Worldometer, the average life expectancy at birth in 2025 is 70.9 years for men and 76.2 years for women, leaving a gap of over five years. When both sexes are combined, global life expectancy stands at about 73.5 years.
Environment / 22 weeks ago
Why hundreds of U.S. counties have lower life expectancy than North Korea
A new analysis from the World Health Organisation (WHO) highlights that hundreds of U.S. counties have a lower life expectancy than North Korea, a nation long criticised for its poor living standards. According to WHO’s 2021 estimates, North Korea’s life expectancy was 72.6 years, a benchmark that many American communities shockingly fail to meet The map from The World in Maps visually underscores the extent of the problem: counties shaded in red across vast swathes of the South, Midwest, and even parts of the West all fall below the 72.6-year mark. These findings stand in stark contrast to the popular perception of the U.S. as a global leader in health and longevity.
Maps / 25 weeks ago
Europe’s ageing reality: The countries with the oldest and youngest populations in 2024
According to the latest data from Eurostat, the European Union is becoming increasingly greyer, with its median age reaching 44.7 years in 2024. This demographic shift highlights disparities between member states and neighbouring countries. As of January 1, 2024, 21.6% of the EU's population was aged 65 or older, up from 21.3% in 2023. Over the past decade, this figure has surged by nearly 3 percentage points, reflecting long-term trends of low birth rates and increasing life expectancy.
World / 36 weeks ago
State of the global life expectancy: Closing the gap
According to the United Nations, global life expectancy at birth has experienced significant changes across various regions. As of 2024, the average life expectancy at birth worldwide is 73.3 years, with females averaging 76.0 years and males 70.7 years. Europe: 77.2 years
World / 42 weeks ago
Global life expectancy from 1960 to 2100: A United Nations perspective
Global life expectancy has changed remarkably over the past six decades, and projections indicate that it will continue to evolve through the end of the 21st century. The United Nations World Population Prospects provides a comprehensive analysis of these trends, offering insights into the factors driving changes in life expectancy and what the future might hold.
