In the last 65 years, life expectancy has increased by 25.3 years for males and 27.1 years for females when evaluated on a world population scale, according to studies by the United Nations Population Division. The significant increase is attributed to many elements that range from medical advancements to widespread health awareness. It also helps that there are more tools to assess long-ranging studies that give more insight into life expectancy and conditions in various parts of the world.
Further studies reveal some astounding statistics. Males were expected to live until the average age of 45.5 years in the 1950s, while women had a life expectancy of 48.5. By 2020, life expectancy at birth for both males and females increased by 36% with more men reaching the age of 70.8 years, while women lived longer at an average 75.6 years.
Out of the 193 regions and countries surveyed for research purposes, Hong Kong was listed as the No. 1 region with an extended life expectancy. Females are expected to live until the average age of 88, with males trailing behind by six years at age 82. Their medicinal practices, along with exceptional healthcare and a healthy culture, have contributed to the region having the highest life expectancy in the world.
The other top 9 regions or countries with relatively long life expectancy include, Japan, Macao, Switzerland, Singapore, Italy, Spain, Australia, Channel Islands, and Iceland.
Bordering countries of the United States showed an interesting disparity in life expectancy. Canada, the second largest country in the world, falls at No. 16 with an average life expectancy of 82.96 for both sexes. Mexico, on the other hand, landed at No. 90 with life expectancy decreasing by a little more than seven years at an average 75.41 years for both sexes.
Ironically mimicking its geographical position, the United States fell in between Canada and Mexico, landing at No. 46 on the list with a life expectancy of 81.65 years for women and 76.61 years for men. The average for both sexes is 79.11 years.
At the bottom of the list are mostly African countries, such as Somalia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Lesotho, Chad, and No. 193 on the list, Central African Republic, marking a shockingly low life expectancy of 54.36 years for both sexes.
Of course, there are the outliers that have surpassed expectations and the stats. Among the cases where people have lived beyond their 80s, many referenced a healthy lifestyle, but others attributed their longevity to truly being happy and doing what they love. Lastly, laughter was their best medicine.
