Demographics
Visualizing the World’s Plummeting Fertility Rate
Visualizing the World’s Plummeting Fertility Rate
At the dawn of the 19th century, the world population hit a big milestone: 1 billion people.
Over the next 220 years, the number grew to eight times that, or the 8 billion people who live on the planet today, with half of the growth occurring since 1975.
This continuous climb in global population has been possible thanks to advancements in healthcare and nutrition. However, the UN forecasts that rapid growth will slow down—and may even stop entirely by 2100—because of falling fertility rates.
What does that mean for modern nation states conditioned to expect a constant influx of new citizens and labor to power their economies? And how can those changing economies adapt to a shrinking population?
To understand that, we need to first untangle fertility rates, and why they’re falling.
Explained: Fertility and Replacement Rates
The total fertility rate is the average number of births per woman over a lifetime. This measurement makes two key assumptions, however:
- The woman will live to the end of her childbearing years
- The woman will bear children according to the age-specific fertility rates currently observed
Both assumptions add some uncertainty to future fertility rate projections. However, decades of past data collected by the World Bank help show some overall trends around the world, and in many countries.
The world fertility rate (expressed as the number of children per woman) has been falling steadily since the 1970s.
In 2020, the world’s fertility rate stood at 2.3, slightly above the replacement rate of 2.1 births per woman, which allows for one generation to replace itself. This is down more than two times from 4.7 in 1960.
But the world’s average hides the vast disparities between the fertility rate of countries. We dive into the differences below.
Which Country has the Highest Fertility Rate?
According to the UN, nearly two-thirds of the world’s population lives in a region where the fertility rate is below the critical 2.1 threshold. In the table below, countries are ranked from the highest to lowest average births per woman in 2020.
Rank | Country Name | 1960 | 1975 | 1990 | 2005 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Niger | 7.53 | 7.54 | 7.81 | 7.62 | 6.89 |
2 | Somalia | 7.25 | 7.03 | 7.44 | 7.48 | 6.42 |
3 | Chad | 6.25 | 6.88 | 7.22 | 7.13 | 6.35 |
4 | Dem. Rep. of Congo | 6.08 | 6.42 | 6.70 | 6.60 | 6.21 |
5 | Mali | 7.00 | 7.24 | 7.25 | 6.72 | 6.04 |
6 | Central African Republic | 5.81 | 5.89 | 6.05 | 5.85 | 5.99 |
7 | Angola | 6.71 | 7.49 | 7.27 | 6.46 | 5.37 |
8 | Nigeria | 6.36 | 6.77 | 6.46 | 6.07 | 5.31 |
9 | Burundi | 7.00 | 7.24 | 7.37 | 6.71 | 5.18 |
10 | Benin | 6.28 | 6.85 | 6.73 | 5.68 | 5.05 |
11 | Burkina Faso | 6.25 | 6.91 | 7.01 | 6.18 | 4.87 |
12 | Tanzania | 6.73 | 7.00 | 6.20 | 5.61 | 4.80 |
13 | Gambia | 6.25 | 6.41 | 6.22 | 5.72 | 4.78 |
14 | Afghanistan | 7.28 | 7.54 | 7.57 | 6.91 | 4.75 |
15 | Mozambique | 6.32 | 6.69 | 6.22 | 5.61 | 4.71 |
16 | Uganda | 6.94 | 7.23 | 7.04 | 6.57 | 4.69 |
17 | Cameroon | 5.65 | 6.39 | 6.39 | 5.41 | 4.54 |
18 | South Sudan | 6.72 | 6.92 | 7.99 | 6.17 | 4.54 |
19 | Sudan | 6.65 | 6.93 | 6.17 | 5.04 | 4.54 |
20 | Guinea | 6.11 | 6.37 | 6.63 | 5.70 | 4.49 |
21 | Cote d'Ivoire | 7.69 | 7.91 | 6.73 | 5.46 | 4.47 |
22 | Mauritania | 6.35 | 6.68 | 6.06 | 5.19 | 4.46 |
23 | Senegal | 7.00 | 7.25 | 6.40 | 5.19 | 4.45 |
24 | Zambia | 7.12 | 7.39 | 6.53 | 5.71 | 4.38 |
25 | Equatorial Guinea | 5.65 | 5.79 | 5.99 | 5.56 | 4.35 |
26 | Togo | 6.72 | 7.15 | 6.13 | 5.07 | 4.32 |
27 | Ethiopia | 6.88 | 7.14 | 7.24 | 5.97 | 4.24 |
28 | Rep. of Congo | 6.09 | 6.36 | 5.21 | 4.66 | 4.23 |
29 | Liberia | 6.39 | 6.74 | 6.37 | 5.52 | 4.17 |
30 | Guinea-Bissau | 5.92 | 6.15 | 6.51 | 5.45 | 4.09 |
31 | Sierra Leone | 6.18 | 6.55 | 6.57 | 5.81 | 4.08 |
32 | Comoros | 6.79 | 7.12 | 6.50 | 5.03 | 4.05 |
33 | Solomon Islands | 6.97 | 7.07 | 5.66 | 4.48 | 4.04 |
34 | Samoa | 7.65 | 6.68 | 4.93 | 4.37 | 4.00 |
35 | Malawi | 7.03 | 7.40 | 6.81 | 5.91 | 4.00 |
36 | Eritrea | 6.48 | 6.59 | 6.34 | 4.93 | 3.93 |
37 | Madagascar | 7.30 | 7.10 | 6.16 | 5.10 | 3.92 |
38 | Sao Tome & Principe | 6.24 | 6.53 | 5.83 | 4.96 | 3.89 |
39 | Yemen | 7.94 | 8.40 | 8.61 | 5.58 | 3.89 |
40 | Rwanda | 8.19 | 8.22 | 6.87 | 5.44 | 3.87 |
41 | Vanuatu | 6.86 | 6.09 | 5.03 | 4.16 | 3.78 |
42 | Ghana | 6.85 | 6.77 | 5.71 | 4.54 | 3.62 |
43 | West Bank & Gaza | NA | NA | 6.78 | 4.84 | 3.57 |
44 | Pakistan | 6.80 | 6.81 | 6.36 | 4.64 | 3.56 |
45 | Iraq | 5.30 | 6.88 | 5.88 | 4.48 | 3.55 |
46 | Gabon | 4.42 | 5.39 | 5.46 | 4.21 | 3.55 |
47 | Zimbabwe | 7.22 | 6.98 | 4.87 | 3.67 | 3.55 |
48 | Kenya | 7.63 | 7.88 | 6.13 | 4.78 | 3.40 |
49 | Namibia | 6.21 | 6.54 | 5.32 | 3.56 | 3.35 |
50 | Kiribati | 6.55 | 5.03 | 4.64 | 3.80 | 3.33 |
51 | Papua New Guinea | 6.02 | 6.07 | 5.18 | 4.22 | 3.27 |
52 | Tonga | 6.89 | 5.43 | 4.64 | 4.18 | 3.27 |
53 | Timor-Leste | 6.32 | 5.19 | 5.81 | 5.71 | 3.25 |
54 | Tajikistan | 6.55 | 6.60 | 5.34 | 3.44 | 3.24 |
55 | Tuvalu | 4.78 | 3.50 | 3.91 | 3.63 | 3.19 |
56 | Kazakhstan | 4.53 | 3.39 | 2.72 | 2.22 | 3.13 |
57 | Lesotho | 5.82 | 5.90 | 4.76 | 3.44 | 3.05 |
58 | Kyrgyzstan | 5.38 | 4.66 | 3.63 | 2.50 | 3.00 |
59 | Egypt | 6.79 | 5.80 | 4.48 | 3.15 | 2.96 |
60 | Algeria | 7.50 | 7.37 | 4.56 | 2.56 | 2.94 |
61 | Israel | 3.87 | 3.55 | 2.82 | 2.84 | 2.90 |
62 | Mongolia | 6.83 | 7.13 | 4.23 | 2.03 | 2.90 |
63 | Uzbekistan | 6.61 | 5.89 | 4.07 | 2.36 | 2.90 |
64 | Eswatini | 6.75 | 6.75 | 5.25 | 3.68 | 2.89 |
65 | Jordan | 7.67 | 7.89 | 5.48 | 3.78 | 2.87 |
66 | Haiti | 6.21 | 5.69 | 5.48 | 3.83 | 2.87 |
67 | Djibouti | 6.83 | 6.77 | 5.98 | 3.99 | 2.85 |
68 | Botswana | 6.63 | 6.58 | 4.49 | 3.08 | 2.84 |
69 | Syria | 7.49 | 7.47 | 5.38 | 3.81 | 2.80 |
70 | Philippines | 7.15 | 5.60 | 4.35 | 3.49 | 2.78 |
71 | Micronesia | 6.69 | 6.68 | 4.96 | 3.60 | 2.75 |
72 | Turkmenistan | 6.59 | 5.90 | 4.24 | 2.66 | 2.70 |
73 | Oman | 7.25 | 7.75 | 6.61 | 3.05 | 2.69 |
74 | Bolivia | 6.36 | 5.79 | 4.89 | 3.56 | 2.65 |
75 | Guam | 5.91 | 3.91 | 3.05 | 2.76 | 2.59 |
76 | Lao | 6.29 | 6.29 | 6.08 | 3.67 | 2.54 |
77 | Libya | 7.37 | 7.96 | 4.97 | 2.77 | 2.51 |
78 | Paraguay | 6.50 | 5.21 | 4.55 | 3.04 | 2.50 |
79 | Fiji | 6.46 | 4.10 | 3.41 | 2.89 | 2.50 |
80 | Guatemala | 6.96 | 6.41 | 5.48 | 3.97 | 2.48 |
81 | Saudi Arabia | 7.63 | 7.37 | 5.83 | 3.24 | 2.47 |
82 | Guyana | 6.37 | 4.50 | 3.07 | 2.84 | 2.42 |
83 | South Africa | 6.16 | 5.19 | 3.72 | 2.51 | 2.40 |
84 | Honduras | 7.46 | 6.86 | 5.29 | 3.55 | 2.39 |
85 | Cambodia | 6.25 | 4.10 | 5.64 | 3.24 | 2.38 |
86 | Suriname | 6.61 | 4.73 | 3.27 | 2.75 | 2.37 |
87 | Morocco | 7.04 | 6.27 | 4.02 | 2.57 | 2.35 |
88 | Nicaragua | 7.16 | 6.50 | 4.60 | 2.77 | 2.35 |
89 | Panama | 5.84 | 4.42 | 3.10 | 2.67 | 2.34 |
90 | Dominican Republic | 7.56 | 5.24 | 3.41 | 2.61 | 2.30 |
91 | Faroe Islands | NA | 2.90 | 2.80 | 2.60 | 2.30 |
92 | World | 4.70 | 4.08 | 3.31 | 2.60 | 2.30 |
93 | Seychelles | NA | NA | NA | 2.20 | 2.29 |
94 | Venezuela, RB | 6.36 | 4.69 | 3.45 | 2.63 | 2.23 |
95 | Peru | 6.94 | 5.71 | 3.91 | 2.69 | 2.22 |
96 | Indonesia | 5.55 | 5.04 | 3.10 | 2.43 | 2.19 |
97 | Myanmar | 5.98 | 5.29 | 3.54 | 2.55 | 2.17 |
98 | Kuwait | 7.16 | 6.09 | 3.32 | 2.66 | 2.14 |
99 | Tunisia | 6.94 | 6.03 | 3.47 | 1.98 | 2.11 |
100 | Lebanon | 5.82 | 4.56 | 3.30 | 2.20 | 2.10 |
101 | Nepal | 6.03 | 5.75 | 5.21 | 3.14 | 2.06 |
102 | Ecuador | 6.72 | 5.43 | 3.74 | 2.80 | 2.05 |
103 | India | 5.92 | 5.20 | 4.05 | 2.96 | 2.05 |
104 | New Caledonia | 6.28 | 3.70 | 3.18 | 2.20 | 2.04 |
105 | Virgin Islands | 5.45 | 3.63 | 2.99 | 2.24 | 2.03 |
106 | Grenada | 6.74 | 4.02 | 3.49 | 2.34 | 2.02 |
107 | Greenland | NA | 2.35 | 2.44 | 2.38 | 2.02 |
108 | Bangladesh | 6.78 | 6.74 | 4.48 | 2.81 | 2.00 |
109 | Sri Lanka | 5.47 | 3.79 | 2.52 | 2.28 | 2.00 |
110 | Belize | 6.50 | 6.28 | 4.70 | 3.13 | 2.00 |
111 | Georgia | 2.94 | 2.53 | 2.31 | 1.61 | 1.97 |
112 | Vietnam | 6.28 | 5.64 | 3.60 | 1.96 | 1.96 |
113 | Turkiye | 6.38 | 5.07 | 3.13 | 2.22 | 1.92 |
114 | Argentina | 3.08 | 3.30 | 3.03 | 2.43 | 1.91 |
115 | Cabo Verde | 6.89 | 6.77 | 5.39 | 2.93 | 1.91 |
116 | Mexico | 6.76 | 5.79 | 3.45 | 2.50 | 1.91 |
117 | Gibraltar | 3.01 | 2.62 | 2.44 | 1.70 | 1.86 |
118 | Bahrain | 7.15 | 5.62 | 3.76 | 2.62 | 1.83 |
119 | France | 2.85 | 2.09 | 1.77 | 1.94 | 1.83 |
120 | El Salvador | 6.63 | 5.68 | 3.95 | 2.46 | 1.82 |
121 | Malaysia | 6.41 | 4.52 | 3.37 | 2.33 | 1.82 |
122 | North Korea | 3.57 | 3.05 | 2.35 | 1.96 | 1.82 |
123 | Qatar | 6.65 | 6.10 | 4.18 | 2.58 | 1.82 |
124 | St. Vincent & the Grenadines | 7.29 | 4.98 | 2.83 | 2.07 | 1.81 |
125 | Brunei Darussalam | 6.84 | 4.99 | 3.29 | 2.02 | 1.80 |
126 | Moldova | 3.33 | 2.53 | 2.39 | 1.53 | 1.77 |
127 | Montenegro | 3.50 | 2.40 | 1.94 | 1.69 | 1.75 |
128 | Colombia | 6.74 | 4.40 | 3.08 | 2.26 | 1.74 |
129 | Iceland | 4.29 | 2.65 | 2.30 | 2.05 | 1.72 |
130 | Maldives | 6.80 | 7.19 | 6.09 | 2.24 | 1.71 |
131 | Czechia | 2.09 | 2.43 | 1.90 | 1.29 | 1.71 |
132 | Iran | 7.30 | 6.01 | 4.86 | 1.78 | 1.71 |
133 | French Polynesia | 5.89 | 4.71 | 3.44 | 2.19 | 1.71 |
134 | Azerbaijan | 5.88 | 4.18 | 2.74 | 2.00 | 1.70 |
135 | Denmark | 2.57 | 1.92 | 1.67 | 1.80 | 1.67 |
136 | Sweden | 2.17 | 1.77 | 2.13 | 1.77 | 1.66 |
137 | Brazil | 6.06 | 4.42 | 2.91 | 1.97 | 1.65 |
138 | U.S. | 3.65 | 1.77 | 2.08 | 2.06 | 1.64 |
139 | Trinidad and Tobago | 5.35 | 3.24 | 2.38 | 1.68 | 1.63 |
140 | Ireland | 3.78 | 3.37 | 2.11 | 1.86 | 1.63 |
141 | Barbados | 4.33 | 2.39 | 1.74 | 1.79 | 1.63 |
142 | New Zealand | 4.24 | 2.33 | 2.18 | 1.97 | 1.61 |
143 | Curacao | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1.60 |
144 | Romania | 2.34 | 2.59 | 1.83 | 1.40 | 1.60 |
145 | Slovenia | 2.19 | 2.18 | 1.46 | 1.26 | 1.60 |
146 | Australia | 3.45 | 2.15 | 1.90 | 1.81 | 1.58 |
147 | Estonia | 1.98 | 2.04 | 2.05 | 1.52 | 1.58 |
148 | Armenia | 4.79 | 2.96 | 2.71 | 1.54 | 1.58 |
149 | Slovak Republic | 3.04 | 2.55 | 2.09 | 1.27 | 1.57 |
150 | Antigua and Barbuda | 4.60 | 2.77 | 2.25 | 1.83 | 1.57 |
151 | Isle of Man | 2.88 | 2.05 | 1.92 | 1.85 | 1.57 |
152 | Bulgaria | 2.31 | 2.23 | 1.82 | 1.37 | 1.56 |
153 | United Kingdom | 2.69 | 1.81 | 1.83 | 1.76 | 1.56 |
154 | Hungary | 2.02 | 2.35 | 1.87 | 1.31 | 1.56 |
155 | Costa Rica | 6.71 | 3.80 | 3.21 | 2.04 | 1.56 |
156 | Belgium | 2.54 | 1.74 | 1.62 | 1.76 | 1.55 |
157 | Latvia | 1.94 | 1.96 | 2.02 | 1.39 | 1.55 |
158 | Netherlands | 3.12 | 1.66 | 1.62 | 1.71 | 1.55 |
159 | Chile | 4.70 | 3.18 | 2.58 | 1.80 | 1.54 |
160 | Germany | 2.37 | 1.45 | 1.45 | 1.34 | 1.53 |
161 | Kosovo | 6.36 | 5.25 | 3.65 | 2.61 | 1.53 |
162 | Russia | 2.52 | 1.98 | 1.89 | 1.29 | 1.51 |
163 | Cuba | 4.13 | 2.85 | 1.80 | 1.47 | 1.50 |
164 | Croatia | 2.23 | 1.96 | 1.63 | 1.50 | 1.48 |
165 | Lithuania | 2.56 | 2.18 | 2.03 | 1.29 | 1.48 |
166 | Norway | 2.85 | 1.98 | 1.93 | 1.84 | 1.48 |
167 | Serbia | NA | NA | NA | 1.45 | 1.48 |
168 | Uruguay | 2.83 | 3.02 | 2.43 | 2.10 | 1.48 |
169 | U.A.E | 6.72 | 6.26 | 4.54 | 2.20 | 1.46 |
170 | Switzerland | 2.44 | 1.61 | 1.58 | 1.42 | 1.46 |
171 | Austria | 2.69 | 1.83 | 1.46 | 1.41 | 1.44 |
172 | Mauritius | 6.17 | 3.20 | 2.32 | 1.88 | 1.44 |
173 | Bhutan | 6.70 | 6.62 | 5.60 | 2.80 | 1.43 |
174 | St. Lucia | 6.97 | 5.46 | 3.40 | 1.68 | 1.41 |
175 | Albania | 6.46 | 4.52 | 2.90 | 1.80 | 1.40 |
176 | Canada | 3.81 | 1.82 | 1.83 | 1.57 | 1.40 |
177 | Portugal | 3.16 | 2.75 | 1.56 | 1.41 | 1.40 |
178 | Bahamas | 4.82 | 3.26 | 2.53 | 2.05 | 1.39 |
179 | Belarus | 2.67 | 2.17 | 1.91 | 1.25 | 1.38 |
180 | Poland | 2.98 | 2.27 | 2.06 | 1.24 | 1.38 |
181 | Finland | 2.72 | 1.68 | 1.78 | 1.80 | 1.37 |
182 | Luxembourg | 2.29 | 1.55 | 1.60 | 1.63 | 1.37 |
183 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 3.91 | 2.36 | 1.79 | 1.20 | 1.36 |
184 | Jamaica | 5.58 | 4.50 | 2.85 | 2.06 | 1.36 |
185 | Thailand | 6.25 | 4.40 | 2.09 | 1.59 | 1.34 |
186 | Greece | 2.23 | 2.33 | 1.39 | 1.34 | 1.34 |
187 | Japan | 2.00 | 1.91 | 1.54 | 1.26 | 1.34 |
188 | Cyprus | 3.51 | 2.11 | 2.41 | 1.48 | 1.33 |
189 | Aruba | 4.82 | 2.51 | 2.30 | 1.78 | 1.33 |
190 | Bermuda | NA | NA | NA | 1.76 | 1.30 |
191 | North Macedonia | 3.97 | 2.59 | 2.19 | 1.50 | 1.30 |
192 | China | 4.45 | 3.57 | 2.51 | 1.62 | 1.28 |
193 | Italy | 2.40 | 2.17 | 1.33 | 1.34 | 1.24 |
194 | Spain | 2.86 | 2.77 | 1.36 | 1.33 | 1.23 |
195 | Ukraine | 2.24 | 2.02 | 1.85 | 1.21 | 1.22 |
196 | Malta | 3.62 | 2.27 | 2.02 | 1.38 | 1.13 |
197 | Singapore | 5.76 | 2.07 | 1.83 | 1.26 | 1.10 |
198 | Macao SAR, China | 4.93 | 1.60 | 1.74 | 0.83 | 1.07 |
199 | British Virgin Islands | 5.16 | 3.36 | 1.59 | 1.34 | 0.98 |
200 | Puerto Rico | 4.80 | 2.77 | 2.38 | 1.77 | 0.90 |
201 | Hong Kong | 5.07 | 2.67 | 1.27 | 0.96 | 0.87 |
202 | South Korea | 5.95 | 3.43 | 1.57 | 1.09 | 0.84 |
The African country of Niger currently has the highest fertility rate, at 6.9, which means on average, a woman in Niger will have seven children in her lifetime.
With the exception of Afghanistan (14th), all of the top 30 countries are found on the African continent. In fact, it’s estimated that Africa will add 2.5 billion new people by 2100, while most continents will actually flatline in terms of population growth.
At the bottom of the rankings, the country with the lowest fertility rate is South Korea, at 0.84.
Interestingly, many of the current most populous countries of the world—including China, India, and the U.S.—are all below replacement levels of fertility, with parts of Europe and North America having had persistently low fertility levels since the 1970s.
However, even the countries that currently have high fertility rates have seen a steep decline over the last 60 years. Why?
Why are Fertility Rates Falling All Over The World?
Declining fertility rates are a consequence of a confluence of many related factors, including (but not limited to):
- Better access to contraception
- Improving opportunities for women, outside of childbearing
- Robust healthcare that lowers mortality rates of children
In the past, a larger number of children meant more chances of some making it to adulthood since infant mortality was so high. Women were also restricted to childbearing and rearing, and lacked access to contraception which led to increased—and sometimes unwanted—pregnancies.
Declining fertility rates are thus a triumph of improved socioeconomic development for many countries.
Consequences of Declining Fertility Rates
Although there are obvious issues with our large global population today, a different set of issues arise when fertility rates fall below replacement levels.
Dropping fertility rates can lead to shrinking populations and a higher ratio of the elderly to working adults—which will have unwanted economic consequences like increased healthcare costs and a reduced tax base.
Short-term solutions like immigration can help until populations are shrinking in every country. Longer-term solutions—reducing the cost of raising a child, and providing better support for families with children—are common strategies deployed to ward off demographic disaster.
The current crop of humanity has never had to contend with shrinking populations on a global scale. How will this reshape human livelihoods, priorities and expectations from life? We might soon find out.
Source: The World Bank.
Data note: The World Bank uses a number of sources to aggregate their data including the UN population division, Eurostat, and several national statistics programs. Data for some years is missing and has been marked as “NA.” Please visit their website for more information.
Healthcare
Charted: Average Years Left to Live by Age
Visualizing the number of years left to live for Americans at every age, reveals the broader trends in American life expectancy.

How Many Years Do You Have Left to Live?
At the start of the 19th century, when there fewer than 1 billion humans on the earth, global life expectancy at birth stood at roughly 29 years.
This is a startlingly low figure—because life expectancy is a statistical projection of how many more years a person can expect to live, based on the mortality rates at the time. And since the infant mortality rate in particular was so high, life expectancies accurately summarized the low likelihood of many babies living to adulthood.
However, since the 1920s, life expectancy across all ages has improved leaps and bounds, thanks to rapid advancements in nutrition, healthcare, and sanitation.
We visualized the current American life expectancy by age and gender, using data from the Office of Social Security, which bases their current projections on 2020 mortality rates.
American Life Expectancy at Every Age
A key takeaway with life expectancy is that it increases as one gets older. This is easily seen in the table below, which lists the remaining years left to live at a given age for an American male and the projected life expectancy.
Age | Years Remaining (Men) | Life Expectancy (Men) |
---|---|---|
0 | 74.12 | 74.12 |
1 | 73.55 | 74.55 |
2 | 72.58 | 74.58 |
3 | 71.60 | 74.60 |
4 | 70.62 | 74.62 |
5 | 69.63 | 74.63 |
6 | 68.64 | 74.64 |
7 | 67.65 | 74.65 |
8 | 66.65 | 74.65 |
9 | 65.66 | 74.66 |
10 | 64.67 | 74.67 |
11 | 63.68 | 74.68 |
12 | 62.69 | 74.69 |
13 | 61.70 | 74.70 |
14 | 60.71 | 74.71 |
15 | 59.73 | 74.73 |
16 | 58.76 | 74.76 |
17 | 57.79 | 74.79 |
18 | 56.84 | 74.84 |
19 | 55.90 | 74.90 |
20 | 54.97 | 74.97 |
21 | 54.04 | 75.04 |
22 | 53.12 | 75.12 |
23 | 52.21 | 75.21 |
24 | 51.30 | 75.30 |
25 | 50.39 | 75.39 |
26 | 49.48 | 75.48 |
27 | 48.57 | 75.57 |
28 | 47.66 | 75.66 |
29 | 46.76 | 75.76 |
30 | 45.86 | 75.86 |
31 | 44.97 | 75.97 |
32 | 44.07 | 76.07 |
33 | 43.18 | 76.18 |
34 | 42.29 | 76.29 |
35 | 41.39 | 76.39 |
36 | 40.50 | 76.50 |
37 | 39.62 | 76.62 |
38 | 38.73 | 76.73 |
39 | 37.85 | 76.85 |
40 | 36.97 | 76.97 |
41 | 36.09 | 77.09 |
42 | 35.21 | 77.21 |
43 | 34.34 | 77.34 |
44 | 33.46 | 77.46 |
45 | 32.59 | 77.59 |
46 | 31.73 | 77.73 |
47 | 30.87 | 77.87 |
48 | 30.01 | 78.01 |
49 | 29.17 | 78.17 |
50 | 28.33 | 78.33 |
51 | 27.50 | 78.50 |
52 | 26.67 | 78.67 |
53 | 25.86 | 78.86 |
54 | 25.06 | 79.06 |
55 | 24.27 | 79.27 |
56 | 23.48 | 79.48 |
57 | 22.71 | 79.71 |
58 | 21.95 | 79.95 |
59 | 21.21 | 80.21 |
60 | 20.47 | 80.47 |
61 | 19.74 | 80.74 |
62 | 19.03 | 81.03 |
63 | 18.32 | 81.32 |
64 | 17.63 | 81.63 |
65 | 16.94 | 81.94 |
66 | 16.26 | 82.26 |
67 | 15.58 | 82.58 |
68 | 14.91 | 82.91 |
69 | 14.24 | 83.24 |
70 | 13.59 | 83.59 |
71 | 12.94 | 83.94 |
72 | 12.30 | 84.30 |
73 | 11.67 | 84.67 |
74 | 11.05 | 85.05 |
75 | 10.46 | 85.46 |
76 | 9.88 | 85.88 |
77 | 9.32 | 86.32 |
78 | 8.77 | 86.77 |
79 | 8.25 | 87.25 |
80 | 7.74 | 87.74 |
81 | 7.25 | 88.25 |
82 | 6.77 | 88.77 |
83 | 6.31 | 89.31 |
84 | 5.88 | 89.88 |
85 | 5.47 | 90.47 |
86 | 5.07 | 91.07 |
87 | 4.70 | 91.70 |
88 | 4.35 | 92.35 |
89 | 4.02 | 93.02 |
90 | 3.72 | 93.72 |
91 | 3.44 | 94.44 |
92 | 3.18 | 95.18 |
93 | 2.96 | 95.96 |
94 | 2.75 | 96.75 |
95 | 2.57 | 97.57 |
96 | 2.42 | 98.42 |
97 | 2.28 | 99.28 |
98 | 2.15 | 100.15 |
99 | 2.04 | 101.04 |
100 | 1.93 | 101.93 |
101 | 1.83 | 102.83 |
102 | 1.73 | 103.73 |
103 | 1.63 | 104.63 |
104 | 1.54 | 105.54 |
105 | 1.45 | 106.45 |
106 | 1.36 | 107.36 |
107 | 1.27 | 108.27 |
108 | 1.18 | 109.18 |
109 | 1.10 | 110.10 |
110 | 1.02 | 111.02 |
111 | 0.95 | 111.95 |
112 | 0.88 | 112.88 |
113 | 0.82 | 113.82 |
114 | 0.76 | 114.76 |
115 | 0.70 | 115.70 |
116 | 0.65 | 116.65 |
117 | 0.60 | 117.60 |
118 | 0.56 | 118.56 |
119 | 0.52 | 119.52 |
120 | 0.48 | 120.48 |
At birth, an average American baby boy can expect to live till just past 74. But if the boy reaches adulthood, then at 21 he might live to a full year more, past 75. This trend persists even towards the end of life when the years we have left drop rapidly, influenced by the higher likelihood of death.
American women, on the other hand, have a higher life expectancy than men. At birth the gap is close to six years, narrowing steadily to around one year by 85.
Age | Years Remaining (Women) | Life Expectancy (Women) |
---|---|---|
0 | 79.78 | 79.78 |
1 | 79.17 | 80.17 |
2 | 78.19 | 80.19 |
3 | 77.21 | 80.21 |
4 | 76.22 | 80.22 |
5 | 75.23 | 80.23 |
6 | 74.24 | 80.24 |
7 | 73.25 | 80.25 |
8 | 72.25 | 80.25 |
9 | 71.26 | 80.26 |
10 | 70.27 | 80.27 |
11 | 69.27 | 80.27 |
12 | 68.28 | 80.28 |
13 | 67.29 | 80.29 |
14 | 66.30 | 80.30 |
15 | 65.31 | 80.31 |
16 | 64.32 | 80.32 |
17 | 63.34 | 80.34 |
18 | 62.36 | 80.36 |
19 | 61.38 | 80.38 |
20 | 60.41 | 80.41 |
21 | 59.44 | 80.44 |
22 | 58.47 | 80.47 |
23 | 57.50 | 80.50 |
24 | 56.54 | 80.54 |
25 | 55.58 | 80.58 |
26 | 54.61 | 80.61 |
27 | 53.66 | 80.66 |
28 | 52.70 | 80.70 |
29 | 51.74 | 80.74 |
30 | 50.79 | 80.79 |
31 | 49.84 | 80.84 |
32 | 48.89 | 80.89 |
33 | 47.94 | 80.94 |
34 | 47.00 | 81.00 |
35 | 46.06 | 81.06 |
36 | 45.12 | 81.12 |
37 | 44.18 | 81.18 |
38 | 43.24 | 81.24 |
39 | 42.31 | 81.31 |
40 | 41.38 | 81.38 |
41 | 40.45 | 81.45 |
42 | 39.52 | 81.52 |
43 | 38.60 | 81.60 |
44 | 37.68 | 81.68 |
45 | 36.76 | 81.76 |
46 | 35.85 | 81.85 |
47 | 34.94 | 81.94 |
48 | 34.04 | 82.04 |
49 | 33.14 | 82.14 |
50 | 32.24 | 82.24 |
51 | 31.35 | 82.35 |
52 | 30.47 | 82.47 |
53 | 29.59 | 82.59 |
54 | 28.72 | 82.72 |
55 | 27.86 | 82.86 |
56 | 27.01 | 83.01 |
57 | 26.16 | 83.16 |
58 | 25.32 | 83.32 |
59 | 24.49 | 83.49 |
60 | 23.67 | 83.67 |
61 | 22.85 | 83.85 |
62 | 22.04 | 84.04 |
63 | 21.24 | 84.24 |
64 | 20.45 | 84.45 |
65 | 19.66 | 84.66 |
66 | 18.88 | 84.88 |
67 | 18.10 | 85.10 |
68 | 17.34 | 85.34 |
69 | 16.58 | 85.58 |
70 | 15.82 | 85.82 |
71 | 15.08 | 86.08 |
72 | 14.36 | 86.36 |
73 | 13.64 | 86.64 |
74 | 12.94 | 86.94 |
75 | 12.26 | 87.26 |
76 | 11.60 | 87.60 |
77 | 10.95 | 87.95 |
78 | 10.31 | 88.31 |
79 | 9.70 | 88.70 |
80 | 9.10 | 89.10 |
81 | 8.53 | 89.53 |
82 | 7.98 | 89.98 |
83 | 7.44 | 90.44 |
84 | 6.93 | 90.93 |
85 | 6.44 | 91.44 |
86 | 5.99 | 91.99 |
87 | 5.55 | 92.55 |
88 | 5.15 | 93.15 |
89 | 4.76 | 93.76 |
90 | 4.41 | 94.41 |
91 | 4.08 | 95.08 |
92 | 3.78 | 95.78 |
93 | 3.51 | 96.51 |
94 | 3.27 | 97.27 |
95 | 3.05 | 98.05 |
96 | 2.85 | 98.85 |
97 | 2.68 | 99.68 |
98 | 2.52 | 100.52 |
99 | 2.37 | 101.37 |
100 | 2.23 | 102.23 |
101 | 2.09 | 103.09 |
102 | 1.96 | 103.96 |
103 | 1.84 | 104.84 |
104 | 1.72 | 105.72 |
105 | 1.61 | 106.61 |
106 | 1.51 | 107.51 |
107 | 1.41 | 108.41 |
108 | 1.32 | 109.32 |
109 | 1.24 | 110.24 |
110 | 1.16 | 111.16 |
111 | 1.09 | 112.09 |
112 | 1.02 | 113.02 |
113 | 0.96 | 113.96 |
114 | 0.90 | 114.90 |
115 | 0.85 | 115.85 |
116 | 0.80 | 116.80 |
117 | 0.75 | 117.75 |
118 | 0.70 | 118.70 |
119 | 0.66 | 119.66 |
120 | 0.62 | 120.62 |
Interestingly, women outlive men in nearly every country in the world, due to a mix of sociological, behavioral, and biological reasons.
COVID-19: Reversing A Decade of Increasing American Life Expectancy
While the current American life expectancy at birth seems reasonably high, it is nearly two years lower than the 2022 figure which used the 2019 mortality rate. It is also lower than the life expectancy at birth in 2009, which used 2005 mortality rate.
Year | Life Expectancy at Birth (Men) | Life Expectancy at Birth (Women) |
---|---|---|
2009 | 74.12 | 79.95 |
2014 | 76.10 | 80.94 |
2019 | 76.04 | 80.99 |
2023 | 74.12 | 79.78 |
American mortality rates went up 17% between 2019–2020, in part because of COVID-19, in turn affecting life expectancy. The U.S. also had a higher COVID-19 mortality rate compared to its peers two years after the pandemic first struck.
Thus, American life expectancy may not improve immediately to 2019 levels, which can affect insurance premiums, pension benefits, and plans.
Where Does This Data Come From?
Source: Office of Social Security, U.S. Government.
Note: The life expectancy at a given age is the average remaining number of years expected prior to death for a person at that exact age, born on January 1, using the mortality rates for 2020 over the course of their remaining life.
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