15 African countries with the highest life expectancy
Earlier this week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) commended African countries for the significant improvements recorded in their life expectancy rates between 2000 and 2019.
In case you missed that story, let’s quickly bring you up to speed – a new report by the WHO said the average life expectancy in Africa increased from 46 to 56 years, representing an addition of 10 years.
The improvement was due to better access to essential primary healthcare services. Specifically, access to primary healthcare improved from 24% in 2000 to 46% in 2019.
There have also been significant improvements in reproductive health as well as greater awareness and efforts to tackle infectious diseases like tuberculosis, HIV and others.
This notwithstanding, many African countries still have a long way to go towards improving their life expectancy rates. Despite the improvement, the average life expectancy rate in Africa is far below those of other continents. Part of the report said:
“However, it still shows inequities, with healthy life highest in countries with better economies. The improvement is fastest in large population countries and those with high population densities. Additionally, the levels of healthy life in the Region are still very low compared to other regions.”
The new WHO report piqued our curiosity to find out which African countries currently have the highest and lowest life expectancy. We shall unveil these lists shortly. But first, let’s look at what life expectancy is all about.
According to the World Bank, life expectancy is based on actuarial data looking at the average number of years a person is expected to live “if mortality patterns at the time of its birth remain constant in the future.” In other words, it is a statistical prediction which considers several individual-level and population-level factors.
That said, below are 15 African countries with the highest life expectancy rates according to Statista.
- Algeria: Has a life expectancy of 77 years.
- Morocco: Has a life expectancy of 74 years.
- Cabo Verse: Has a life expectancy of 74 years.
- Tunisia: Has a life expectancy of 74 years.
- Mauritius: Has a life expectancy of 73 years.
- Libya: Has a life expectancy of 72 years.
- Seychelles: Has a life expectancy of 71 years.
- Egypt: Has a life expectancy of 70 years.
- Sao Tome & Principe: Has a life expectancy of 68 years.
- Senegal: Has a life expectancy of 67 years
- Rwanda: Has a life expectancy of 67 years.
- Tanzania: Has a life expectancy of 66 years.
- Eritrea: Has a life expectancy of 66 years.
- Botswana: Has a life expectancy of 65 years.
- Gabon: Has a life expectancy of 65 years.
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