Global life expectancy nearly back to 2019 level, WHO says
WHO estimates for 2000-2023 show people living almost as long as before the pandemic, but with fewer healthy years and more dementia.
The World Health Organization (WHO) published its Global Health Estimates on October 2, a 2000-2023 series the agency builds with models from national records and other sources. It is not a study with participants or a trial: it is an institutional report.
In 2023, global life expectancy was 73.3 years, compared with 73.4 in 2019, the year before the covid-19 pandemic. Healthy life expectancy, which counts years lived without significant illness or disability, recovered more slowly: 62.8 years, still 0.4 below 2019.
Noncommunicable diseases caused 74% of deaths in 2023, against 58% in 2000, and eight of the ten leading causes of death belong to that group. Dementia moved from 19th place to fifth, and between 2000 and 2023 its deaths tripled. On its outlook in Mexico, this outlet reported that UNAM expects dementia in Mexico to nearly triple by 2050.
In mental health, the rate of years lost to disability or premature death grew about 20% for depressive disorders and nearly 45% for anxiety disorders between 2019 and 2023. Together, WHO counts some 110 million years of health lost in 2023.
By region, WHO points to rising cardiovascular risk in the Western Pacific and South-East Asia, and a substantial increase in diabetes mortality in South-East Asia since 2000. In the Americas, drug use disorders grew more than in any other region from 2000 to 2023.
Alain Labrique, who leads WHO's data, digital health and analytics work, set out what comes next:
"Living longer is one of the great achievements of public health. The next challenge is to make sure those extra years are lived in good health."
The figures are global. WHO publishes tables with country-level detail, which were not consulted for this report, so they do not by themselves describe the situation in Mexico.
Anyone who needs emotional support can call the Conasama Lifeline in Mexico, 800 911 2000, free and open 24 hours. This information does not replace a consultation with a health professional.
The data describe trends in the world's general population and contain no recommendations for any particular group.
