Global Life Expectancy Drops by 1.8 Years: WHO

Global life expectancy fell by 1.8 years between 2019 and 2021, marking the steepest decline in recent history and erasing a decade of health improvements, according to WHO’s newest report, World Health Statistics 2025. 

“This report shows that the world is failing its health check,” said Dr. Samira Asma, Assistant Director General for Data, Analytics and Delivery, WHO. “But countries have shown it is possible to make rapid progress. With speed, scale, and smart investments, all countries can achieve measurable health gains.”

The report attributes the drop primarily to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused widespread disruption in health services, alongside a longer-term slowdown in progress that began before 2020. The WHO warns that overall global health development is now at risk and calls for immediate coordinated action.

The data shows stark imbalances in health outcomes. While 1.4 billion more people are living healthier lives, exceeding WHO’s “triple billion” target, access to essential health services without financial hardship improved for only 431 million people. Meanwhile, maternal and child mortality rates are not declining quickly enough to meet international goals.

From 2000 to 2023, global maternal deaths dropped by 40% due to improved access to essential care. Yet, 260,000 women still died from pregnancy-related causes in 2023, a pace of one death every two minutes, writes MBN. WHO notes the slowing rate of improvement since 2016 and warns that recent cuts to humanitarian funding could reverse earlier gains.

Noncommunicable diseases such as stroke, diabetes, and cancer remain the leading causes of death among people under 70. Their burden is increasing with aging populations. Chronic respiratory illnesses and poor mental health also continue to hinder progress, despite declines in tobacco and alcohol consumption.

Infectious disease trends present a mixed picture. HIV and tuberculosis cases are decreasing, and fewer individuals require treatment for neglected tropical diseases. However, malaria has resurged since 2015, and childhood vaccination rates have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Air pollution remains one of the leading causes of preventable death globally, and fundamental risks like malnutrition and unsafe living conditions are not being addressed quickly enough in many countries. 

Recently, in Mexico, a new proposal surged to make remote work a mandatory option during periods of high air pollution, promoting telework as a tool to protect public health and reduce the environmental impact of daily commuting, reports MBN. 

The WHO report also highlights growing disparities in health outcomes between and within countries. According to MBN, life expectancy in the least advantaged nations can be up to 33 years shorter than in wealthier ones, driven not only by access to healthcare but also by structural inequalities including poor housing, limited education, and systemic discrimination.

The WHO’s companion World Report on Social Determinants of Health Equity emphasizes the need for structural reforms that go beyond health systems. It calls for policies that reduce income inequality, expand public services, and build community resilience amid rising costs of living, climate-related stressors, and geopolitical conflict.

Tedros Adhanom, Director General, WHO, underscored the urgency of coordinated global action: “Behind each data point is a person: a child who does not survive past five, a mother who loses her life during childbirth, a life cut short by a preventable disease. These are avoidable tragedies. All governments must act urgently, with commitment and accountability.”