Money might not buy happiness, but new UN data reveals it does buy years of life, with the world’s wealthiest nations enjoying lifespans up to 30 years longer than the poorest countries.
At a Glance
- Monaco leads global life expectancy at 87 years, while Nigeria has the lowest at just 55 years
- Global life expectancy has increased from 64 years in 1990 to 73.3 years in 2024, projected to reach 77 years by 2050
- Economic prosperity strongly correlates with longevity through better healthcare access and infrastructure
- The biggest life expectancy gaps between wealthy and poor regions occur before age 5 and after age 60
- Without immigration, the U.S. population would begin shrinking by 2033 due to low fertility rates
The Geography of Longevity
The United Nations World Population Prospects 2025 paints a stark picture of global inequality through life expectancy data. Monaco stands at the summit with residents expected to live 87 years, while in Nigeria, life expectancy is just 55 years—a staggering 32-year gap. This disparity isn’t random but follows clear economic patterns. Western European nations consistently report lifespans above 80 years, while multiple African countries struggle to reach 60 years. These numbers represent more than statistics; they reflect vast differences in healthcare access, nutrition, safety, and overall quality of life.
The global picture shows progress mixed with persistent challenges. Worldwide life expectancy has risen impressively from 64 years in 1990 to 73.3 years today and is projected to reach 77 years by 2050. However, this improvement isn’t evenly distributed. Dense population centers like Japan and South Korea maintain high life expectancies despite crowding, largely due to efficient healthcare systems and strong economies. Meanwhile, economic insecurity in parts of Africa and Asia continues to suppress lifespan potential, creating what amounts to a global longevity gap.
— 0xDíaz (@0xMrDiaz) April 23, 2025
The Economics of Living Longer
Wealth stands as perhaps the strongest predictor of longevity across nations. Higher-income countries consistently show longer lifespans due to superior medical infrastructure, preventive care access, better nutrition, and safer living conditions. The correlation is unmistakable: as national income rises, so does life expectancy. This relationship highlights how economic development translates directly into human health outcomes. Wealthier nations can afford comprehensive healthcare systems, implement public health initiatives, and provide safety nets that collectively add years to their citizens’ lives.
The mortality difference between wealthy and poor regions is most pronounced at two critical life stages: early childhood and after age 60. In low-income countries, inadequate medical infrastructure leads to higher infant and child mortality rates from preventable causes. After age 60, limited access to treatments for chronic conditions and age-related diseases sharply reduces survival rates compared to wealthier nations. This pattern demonstrates how economic disparities compound throughout the life course, creating an increasingly divergent mortality experience between wealthy and developing regions.
Population Dynamics and Future Challenges
Global demographic trends add complexity to the economic-longevity relationship. The world population, currently 8.2 billion, is projected to peak at 10.3 billion in the 2080s before beginning a historic decline. This population aging presents unique challenges, as those over 65 represent the fastest-growing demographic segment worldwide. In the United States, the ratio of working-age adults to retirement-age individuals is expected to fall from 2.8-to-1 in 2025 to just 2.2-to-1 by 2055, straining social support systems and healthcare infrastructure even in wealthy nations.
Migration has become an increasingly critical factor in population stability. Without immigration, the U.S. population would begin shrinking by 2033 as deaths exceed births. This pattern is already playing out across much of Europe and East Asia. Immigration helps offset population decline in approximately 50 countries worldwide, highlighting the complex interplay between demographic shifts and economic sustainability. For many developing economies, the challenge is particularly acute—most low-income countries are unlikely to achieve middle-income status by 2050, making the health-wealth gap potentially even wider in coming decades.
