WHO: Global Life Expectancy Nears Pre-Pandemic Levels, Health Years Lag
The WHO's Global Health Estimates report shows life expectancy almost back to 2019 levels, but outlets differ on which additional findings, such as mental health trends, they highlight.
What happened
The World Health Organization's annual Global Health Estimates report found that global life expectancy reached 73.3 years in 2023, nearing the 73.4 years recorded in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic.1
The pandemic had driven global life expectancy down to 71.5 years in 2021.4
The WHO said that while overall life expectancy has nearly recovered, the number of years people live in good health is recovering more slowly.53
The WHO also reported that cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide, and that healthy life lost to anxiety and depressive disorders has risen sharply since 2019.23
What's agreed
Reported consistently by outlets in more than one region.
- Global life expectancy has nearly returned to pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels, according to the WHO.12345
- Life expectancy reached about 73 to 73.3 years in 2023, close to the 73.4 years recorded in 2019 before the pandemic.15
- Recovery in healthy years lived (healthy life expectancy) is lagging behind the recovery in overall life expectancy.35
Where accounts differ
Each account is attributed to who makes it. We do not judge between them.
Exact global life expectancy figure for 2023/pre-pandemic comparison
How it's framed
What each perspective puts first, based on headlines and summaries.
| Perspective | How it reads | What it puts first |
|---|---|---|
| African private pressAfrica | Focuses on the headline recovery figures and directly attributes findings to the WHO report, presenting the news in a straightforward, factual manner.15 | pre-pandemic recovery, specific figures, WHO attribution |
| Russian state-controlled mediaRussia & Eurasia | Emphasizes the life expectancy recovery alongside a separate WHO finding on cardiovascular disease as the leading global cause of death, giving equal weight to both points.2 | life expectancy recovery, cardiovascular disease mortality |
| Turkish state-controlled mediaMiddle East & Turkey | Highlights a more critical angle, stressing that the recovery in overall life expectancy masks a slower recovery in healthy years, and foregrounds sharp WHO-reported increases in anxiety and depressive disorders since 2019.3 | healthy life years lagging, mental health deterioration, anxiety and depression increases |
| Southeast Asian private pressSoutheast Asia | Frames the story around the trajectory of decline and recovery, noting the pandemic low point in 2021 before near-full recovery.4 | pandemic-era low point, recovery trajectory |
What the coverage leaves out
- None of the outlets reviewed reported regional or country-level breakdowns of life expectancy recovery.
- None of the outlets reviewed detailed the full range of causes of death or disease burden covered in the WHO's Global Health Estimates report beyond cardiovascular disease and mental health conditions.
- None of the outlets reviewed included reaction or comment from public health experts outside the WHO.
- None of the outlets reviewed specified the exact date or venue of the WHO's report release beyond one reference to Friday.
Why it matters
Sources (5)
Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.
Russia & Eurasia
- 2TASSRUState-controlled
Middle East & Turkey
- 3Anadolu AgencyTRState-controlled
Global life expectancy nears pre-pandemic level, but healthy years lag behind: WHO
Africa
- 1Channels TelevisionNGPrivate
- 5VanguardNGPrivate
Global life expectancy rises to 73 yrs, nearing pre-Covid level — WHO
Southeast Asia
- 4The Straits TimesSGPrivate
Life expectancy almost back to pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels, says WHO