Life expectancy in the United States reached an all-time high in 2024, this according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A report published on January 29 by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics found that average life expectancy rose to 79.0 years, an increase of half a year compared with 2023.
The data showed gains for both sexes, with female life expectancy rising from 81.1 to 81.4 years, while male life expectancy increased more sharply, from 75.8 to 76.5 years, narrowing the gender gap to just under five years. Overall death rates fell by nearly 4%, reaching their lowest level since before the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by declines in deaths from heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, and COVID-19.
Global life expectancy has risen dramatically over the past six decades, reflecting improvements in healthcare, sanitation, and nutrition. Browse this gallery to see which other countries have recorded the biggest gains.