society
Life expectancy
Life expectancy at birth.
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Data insight
Global perspective
The world estimate was 73.5 years in 2024, up 2.4% from 2014. Across the longer period from 2004, the global estimate changed by +4.73 years (+6.9%). Latest country observations range from 54.6 years in Nigeria (2024) to 86.5 years in Monaco (2024), with the middle country observation at 74.7 years; observation years may differ. Across the derived regional aggregates, Europe reports 79.5 years, while Africa reports 64.4 years. Over roughly a decade, Europe changed by +1.3 years; Africa changed by +3.28 years. Among countries with sufficient history, the largest absolute decade increase was +17.4 years in Central African Republic, while the largest decrease was -0.751 years in Jamaica. Coverage includes 213 countries; their latest observation years span 2024-2024, with a median latest year of 2024.
Belgium over time
Belgium reports 82.3 years in 2024. From 2014 to 2024, Belgium increased by 1.01 years (1.2%). From 2004 to 2024, Belgium increased by 3.42 years (4.3%). The latest decade changed by +1.01 years, versus +2.41 years in the preceding decade, indicating a smaller absolute movement.
Europe and world context
This is 2.84 years above Europe (2024). This is 8.81 years above the world estimate (2024). From 2014 to 2024, Europe increased by 1.3 years (1.7%). The latest decade changed by +1.3 years, versus +3.41 years in the preceding decade, indicating a smaller absolute movement.
Belgium has the 31st-highest latest observation among 213 countries and 19th among 46 countries in Europe. Latest observation years span 2024-2024, so ranks are descriptive rather than perfectly synchronized.
- Regional spread: Europe is at 79.5 years (2024), compared with 64.4 years in Africa (2024).
- Largest observed decade increase: Central African Republic changed by +17.4 years.
- Largest observed decade decrease: Jamaica changed by -0.751 years.
- Coverage: 213 countries; the median latest observation is 2024, with latest country observations spanning 2024-2024.
Source
World Bank
Source series SP.DYN.LE00.IN. World and continent values are derived from available countries using population-weighted averages.