Global life expectancy nears pre-pandemic levels, WHO reports

Global life expectancy has rebounded to near pre-pandemic levels, according to the World Health Organization's latest assessment, signalling a substantial recovery from the acute phase of the Covid-19 crisis. The metric, which measures average years a person is expected to live from birth, had fallen sharply during 2020-2021 as the pandemic claimed millions of lives worldwide. The rebound reflects both the direct reduction in Covid-related deaths and the resumption of normal healthcare services globally.

However, the WHO cautioned that the recovery in healthy life expectancy—measured in disability-adjusted life years—has progressed more slowly than overall life expectancy gains. This discrepancy suggests that while people are living longer again, the quality of those additional years remains a concern in many regions. The organization highlighted that pandemic-related disruptions to healthcare services, immunization programs, and disease prevention efforts continue to affect population health metrics in several countries.

The recovery trajectory varies significantly across regions and income levels, with developing nations still facing steeper challenges in restoring pre-pandemic health standards. The WHO emphasized the importance of strengthening healthcare infrastructure and addressing health inequities to ensure sustained improvements in both life expectancy and healthy living standards across all populations.