Life Expectancy Calculator

Estimate your life expectancy based on your age and sex. According to WHO Global Health Observatory data, global life expectancy at birth reached 73.4 years in 2023. See how many years and weeks you may have remaining, and visualize what percentage of your life you've already lived.

Key Takeaways

Global average: 73.4 years (2023) - up from 66.8 years in 2000 (WHO)
Gender gap: Women live 5 years longer than men globally (76.0 vs 71.0 years)
Top countries: Japan (84.3), Switzerland (84.0), Singapore (84.0 years)
Blue Zones: 5 regions with highest centenarian populations (Blue Zones)
Lifestyle impact: Not smoking adds 10+ years; exercise adds 3-7 years (CDC)
Historical growth: Life expectancy doubled since 1900 (from ~31 to 73 years)

Date of Birth

Sex

Life Expectancy

Years Remaining

Weeks Remaining

Life Lived

Based on global averages. Actual life expectancy varies by country, lifestyle, and health factors.

Calculator Examples

See how our life expectancy calculator works with these real-world examples:

Scenario	Input	Result	Use Case
Young adult male	Born: 2000 \| Male	Life expectancy: 76.3 years, ~50 years remaining	Long-term financial planning
Middle-aged female	Born: 1975 \| Female	Life expectancy: 81.2 years, ~30 years remaining	Retirement savings calculation
Senior planning	Born: 1950 \| Male	Life expectancy: 76.3 years, 62% life lived	Estate planning timeline
Newborn projection	Born: 2025 \| Female	Life expectancy: 81.2 years, 4,200+ weeks ahead	New parent perspective
Centenarian goal	Born: 1940 \| Female	Life expectancy: 81.2 years (exceeded!)	Beating the statistical odds
Insurance assessment	Born: 1985 \| Male	Life expectancy: 76.3 years, ~35 years remaining	Life insurance premium estimate

Factors That Affect Life Expectancy

Life expectancy is influenced by numerous factors, some within your control and others determined by genetics and environment. According to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, lifestyle choices account for up to 50% of longevity outcomes.

fitness

Physical Activity (+3-7 years)

Regular exercise can add 3-7 years to your life. The WHO recommends 150-300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity weekly. Even 15 minutes of daily walking reduces mortality risk by 22%.

nutrition

Diet & Nutrition (+2-4 years)

The Mediterranean diet is associated with 20-25% lower all-cause mortality. Plant-based diets, adequate fiber (25-30g/day), and limiting processed foods all contribute to longevity. Blue Zone populations eat primarily plant-based.

health

Smoking & Alcohol (-10 years)

Smoking reduces life expectancy by 10+ years according to the CDC. Quitting at 40 regains 9 years. Heavy alcohol use (4+ drinks/day) reduces lifespan by 20 years.

dna

Genetics (25% of variation)

Family history accounts for about 25% of lifespan variation. If your parents lived to 90+, you have 10-20% higher odds of doing the same. Certain gene variants (APOE, FOXO3) are linked to longevity.

social

Social Connections (+7 years)

Strong social ties add 7+ years to life. Loneliness increases mortality risk by 26% per American Psychological Association. Marriage, friendships, and community involvement all contribute.

location

Geography & Healthcare

Where you live matters. Japan's universal healthcare and diet contribute to 84.3-year life expectancy. The US lags at 77.5 years despite high healthcare spending, partly due to obesity and opioid crises.

Life Expectancy by Country (Visual)

This chart shows how life expectancy varies dramatically across different countries. Data from WHO 2023 data:

Japan

84.3 years

Switzerland

84.0 years

Singapore

84.0 years

Australia

83.5 years

Spain

83.3 years

United Kingdom

81.3 years

China

78.2 years

United States

77.5 years

World Average

73.4 years

India

70.8 years

Nigeria

54.7 years

Japanese citizens live nearly 30 years longer on average than citizens of Nigeria - a gap that reflects healthcare access, nutrition, and socioeconomic factors.

Life Expectancy by Country - Detailed Data (2023)

Complete breakdown by sex, including healthy life expectancy (HALE) - years lived in good health without disability:

Country	Overall	Male	Female	HALE	Gender Gap
Japan	84.3 years	81.5 years	87.1 years	74.1 years	5.6 years
Switzerland	84.0 years	82.2 years	85.7 years	73.2 years	3.5 years
Singapore	84.0 years	81.9 years	86.1 years	73.6 years	4.2 years
Australia	83.5 years	81.6 years	85.4 years	71.7 years	3.8 years
Spain	83.3 years	80.6 years	85.9 years	72.1 years	5.3 years
Italy	83.1 years	80.7 years	85.4 years	71.9 years	4.7 years
South Korea	83.6 years	80.5 years	86.5 years	73.1 years	6.0 years
Canada	82.3 years	80.0 years	84.4 years	71.3 years	4.4 years
Germany	81.3 years	78.7 years	83.6 years	70.9 years	4.9 years
United Kingdom	81.3 years	79.4 years	83.1 years	70.1 years	3.7 years
China	78.2 years	75.5 years	81.0 years	68.5 years	5.5 years
United States	77.5 years	74.8 years	80.2 years	66.1 years	5.4 years
Brazil	75.9 years	72.4 years	79.4 years	65.4 years	7.0 years
Russia	73.2 years	68.2 years	78.0 years	64.2 years	9.8 years
India	70.8 years	69.5 years	72.2 years	59.3 years	2.7 years
Global Average	73.4 years	71.0 years	76.0 years	63.7 years	5.0 years

Note: Russia has the largest gender gap (9.8 years) due to high male mortality from alcohol, accidents, and cardiovascular disease. India has the smallest gap (2.7 years).

Blue Zones: Where People Live Longest

Researcher Dan Buettner identified five "Blue Zones" - regions with the highest concentrations of centenarians (people living to 100+). These areas offer lessons for longevity. Learn more at Blue Zones:

Blue Zone	Location	Key Longevity Factors	Notable Stat
Okinawa	Japan	Plant-based diet, strong social ties (moai), purpose (ikigai)	World's longest-lived women
Sardinia	Italy	Mountain living, sheep herding, Cannonau wine, family-centered	10x more male centenarians than US
Nicoya Peninsula	Costa Rica	Calcium-rich water, "plan de vida" (life plan), physical work	Lowest middle-age mortality
Ikaria	Greece	Mediterranean diet, napping, herbal teas, no urgency	1 in 3 live to 90
Loma Linda	California, USA	Seventh-day Adventist faith, vegetarian diet, community	Live 10 years longer than avg American

Common traits across all Blue Zones: Plant-based diet (95%), constant moderate physical activity, strong sense of purpose, stress-reduction rituals, moderate alcohol (except Loma Linda), family-first mentality, and belonging to a faith-based community.

Historical Life Expectancy Trends

Life expectancy has increased dramatically over human history. Data from Our World in Data:

Era/Year	Global Life Expectancy	Key Factors
Prehistoric	~20-30 years	High infant mortality, predators, no medicine
Ancient Rome	~25-35 years	Disease, war, poor sanitation
Medieval Europe	~30-35 years	Plague, famine, limited healthcare
1800	~29 years	Pre-industrial, high child mortality
1900	~31 years	Industrialization begins
1950	~46 years	Antibiotics, vaccines, better sanitation
1990	~64 years	Medical advances, improved nutrition
2000	~66.8 years	HIV treatment, reduced infant mortality
2019	~72.8 years	Pre-COVID peak
2021	~71.4 years	COVID-19 pandemic impact (-1.8 years)
2023	~73.4 years	Recovery, continued medical advances

Important: Low historical averages were primarily due to extremely high infant and child mortality. Adults who survived childhood in ancient times often lived into their 60s-70s.

How Life Expectancy Is Calculated

Life expectancy is a statistical measure that represents the average number of years a person is expected to live based on current mortality rates. Understanding the methodology helps interpret the numbers correctly.

Life Expectancy at Birth: This is the most commonly cited figure. It represents how long a newborn baby is expected to live if current mortality patterns remain constant throughout their life. This measure is heavily influenced by infant mortality rates.

Period vs. Cohort Life Expectancy: Period life expectancy uses current death rates across all ages. Cohort (or generation) life expectancy follows a specific birth year and adjusts for expected improvements over time - this typically yields higher estimates.

Actuarial Life Tables: Insurance companies and pension funds use detailed life tables from organizations like the Social Security Administration or CDC National Center for Health Statistics to calculate precise remaining life expectancy at any given age.

Our Calculator: We use simplified global averages (76 years for males, 81 years for females) to provide a general estimate. For personalized predictions, consult actuarial life tables from your country's statistics office or insurance provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

This calculator provides a general estimate based on global averages. Actual life expectancy depends on many factors including your country, lifestyle, genetics, and health conditions. For more precise estimates, consult actuarial life tables from the Social Security Administration or your country's statistics office.

Women outlive men by 4-5 years on average due to several factors per WHO research: biological advantages (estrogen protects heart health, two X chromosomes provide backup genes), behavioral differences (men have higher rates of smoking, drinking, and risky behavior), and healthcare patterns (women seek medical care more frequently). Russia has the widest gap at 9.8 years.

Japan consistently ranks highest with a life expectancy of 84.3 years, followed by Switzerland (84.0), Singapore (84.0), and South Korea (83.6). The five Blue Zones (Okinawa, Sardinia, Nicoya, Ikaria, Loma Linda) have exceptionally high concentrations of centenarians.

Yes! According to the CDC, you can add years to your life by: not smoking (adds 10+ years), regular exercise (adds 3-7 years), healthy diet (adds 2-4 years), moderate alcohol (vs heavy drinking), maintaining healthy weight, and strong social connections (adds 7+ years).

Life expectancy is the average number of years people are expected to live based on current mortality rates. Maximum lifespan is the longest any individual can live - for humans, this is around 120-125 years. The oldest verified person was Jeanne Calment at 122 years and 164 days per Guinness World Records.

Per Our World in Data, life expectancy has more than doubled since 1900. In 1900, global life expectancy was about 31 years. By 1950, it reached 46 years. Today, it's around 73 years. This increase is mainly due to reduced infant mortality, antibiotics, vaccines, better sanitation, and improved healthcare.

Blue Zones are five regions with the highest centenarian populations: Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica), Ikaria (Greece), and Loma Linda (California). Common factors include plant-based diets, daily physical activity, strong social ties, and sense of purpose.

The US ranks 46th globally at 77.5 years despite high healthcare spending. Contributing factors include: high obesity rates (42%), opioid epidemic deaths, gun violence, lack of universal healthcare, high uninsured rates, and car accident fatalities. COVID-19 reduced US life expectancy by 2.7 years (2019-2021), more than most developed nations.

Healthy Life Expectancy (HALE) measures the number of years a person can expect to live in "full health" - without disability or disease. Global HALE is 63.7 years vs 73.4 years total life expectancy, meaning people spend about 10 years in poor health on average.

COVID-19 caused the largest single-year decline in global life expectancy since World War II. Global life expectancy dropped from 72.8 years (2019) to 71.4 years (2021) - a 1.8-year decline. The US experienced a 2.7-year drop, while some Asian countries (Japan, South Korea) saw minimal impact due to effective public health measures.

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