Nournews: The global life expectancy map for 2025 provides a comprehensive picture of health conditions, social welfare, economic development, and quality of life across different countries. As one of the most important indicators of human development, life expectancy reflects the average number of years a newborn is expected to live if current conditions in a country remain unchanged.
According to the latest international estimates, global life expectancy reached approximately 73.5 years in 2025. This figure represents a significant increase compared to previous decades and reflects major advances in medicine, vaccination, public health, nutrition, and access to healthcare services. However, these achievements have not been distributed equally across the world, and substantial disparities remain between countries.
The countries with the highest life expectancy are primarily located in Europe, East Asia, and Oceania. The principality of Monaco tops the global ranking with an average life expectancy of about 86.5 years. It is followed by San Marino, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Switzerland, where average life expectancy is estimated at over 84 years. These countries benefit from advanced healthcare systems, high per capita incomes, extensive health insurance coverage, strong food security, and high levels of social welfare.
In Europe, most Western and Northern European countries report life expectancy above 80 years. Spain, Italy, France, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland continue to rank among the world's most successful nations in terms of health indicators. Effective management of chronic diseases, broad access to healthcare services, and healthy lifestyles are among the key factors behind these outcomes.
In North America, both Canada and the United States rank relatively high on the global scale, although several European and Asian countries outperform them. In Latin America, countries such as Chile, Costa Rica, and Uruguay have achieved life expectancy levels above 78 years, placing them in a favorable position compared with the global average.
Asia remains one of the world's most successful regions in extending life expectancy. Japan and South Korea rank among the top five countries globally, while China, having surpassed the 78-year threshold, has narrowed its gap with developed nations. Many Southeast Asian countries have also recorded remarkable improvements in life expectancy over the past two decades.
In 2025, Iran recorded a life expectancy of approximately 78 years, placing it above the global average. This figure is about 4.5 years higher than the world average and reflects the country's achievements in public health, control of infectious diseases, reduction of infant mortality, expansion of healthcare networks, and broader access to medical services. Compared with many developing countries, Iran's position is considered favorable, placing it among nations with medium-to-high levels of human development.
At the other end of the spectrum, the lowest levels of life expectancy are still concentrated in parts of Africa. Countries such as Chad, Nigeria, the Central African Republic, Lesotho, and South Sudan rank near the bottom of the global table. In some of these countries, average life expectancy is estimated at less than 56 years. Widespread poverty, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, malnutrition, infectious diseases, internal conflicts, and political instability are among the primary factors contributing to lower life expectancy in these regions.
One of the most significant messages conveyed by the 2025 global life expectancy map is the persistence of inequality in access to health and well-being. The gap between the highest-ranked country and those at the bottom exceeds 30 years, highlighting the extent to which place of birth remains one of the most decisive factors influencing human lifespan.
Experts believe that life expectancy will continue to rise in the coming decades. However, the pace of this progress will depend on factors such as economic development, investment in healthcare systems, the fight against chronic diseases, the reduction of social inequalities, and the management of environmental challenges.
Overall, the 2025 global life expectancy map indicates that the world is moving toward longer human lifespans, yet substantial disparities between affluent and disadvantaged nations persist. With a life expectancy of around 78 years, Iran stands above the global average and is considered among the countries with relatively favorable health and human development indicators.
Nournews