Global life expectancy nearly regained its pre-pandemic level in 2023, but years lived in good health recovered more slowly, according to World Health Organization estimates released on October 2, 2026. The global figures show an uneven recovery alongside a growing burden of chronic illness.
Life expectancy reached 73.3 years, compared with 73.4 in 2019, WHO said. AFP reported that it had fallen to 71.5 during the coronavirus crisis in 2021. Healthy life expectancy reached 62.8 years in 2023, still 0.4 years below 2019. These are historical estimates, not measurements of health in 2026.
The new Global Health Estimates cover 2000 to 2023. WHO put the share of worldwide deaths caused by noncommunicable diseases at 74% in 2023, up from 58% in 2000. Such diseases occupied eight of the ten leading positions among causes of death, underlining the changing demands on health services.
Ischaemic heart disease caused about 9.5 million deaths in 2023, according to WHO. Dementia ranked fifth among causes of death, compared with nineteenth in 2000, and deaths from dementia tripled over that period. AFP also reported that COVID-19 dropped out of the ten leading causes in 2023.
The report also describes worsening mental health burdens. Between 2019 and 2023, age-standardized rates of disability-adjusted life years rose about 20% for depressive disorders and nearly 45% for anxiety disorders. This measure captures healthy years lost through disability and premature death; the percentages are not increases in diagnosed case numbers.
WHO data director Alain Labrique said the challenge was to ensure longer lives were also healthier and that services could respond to changing needs. The agency said its estimates would help countries set health priorities and strengthen their ability to analyse data, providing evidence to guide future action.
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