Countries Ranked by Life expectancy in 2020
Life expectancy for each country in 2020, ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
In 2020, Monaco ranks #1 with 86.1 years. Hong Kong SAR, China is second with 85.5 years, 0.69% behind. The top five are Monaco, Hong Kong SAR, China, Japan, Macao SAR, China and Singapore. The median across all 217 is 73 years; Central African Republic is last at 50.6 years.
- #1
- Monaco · 86.1 years
- Median
- 73 years
- Coverage
- 217 countries
- Data year
- 2020
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
Showing the top 100 of 217. Premium downloads the full list as CSV or JSON.
About the top 10
#1 Monaco
Monaco ranks #1 on this list with 86.1 years.
- Capital
- Monaco
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 38,341 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$11.13 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$288,000 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 86.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in population ages 65+ share · #1 in age dependency ratio (old) · #1 in gdp per capita.
#2 Hong Kong SAR, China
Hong Kong SAR, China ranks #2 on this list with 85.5 years.
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 7.5 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$427.31 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$56,983 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 85.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
- International tourist arrivals
- 3.57 million arrivals (2020)
Also ranks #1 in female population share · #1 in trade share of gdp · #2 in female life expectancy.
#3 Japan
Japan ranks #3 on this list with 84.6 years.
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 123.37 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$4.44 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$35,951 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 84 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 92.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Tokyo, Tokyo, Yokohama.
Also ranks #2 in population ages 65+ share · #2 in age dependency ratio (old) · #2 in fdi outflows.
#4 Macao SAR, China
Macao SAR, China ranks #4 on this list with 84.1 years.
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 685,900 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$52.06 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$75,902 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
- International tourist arrivals
- 5.9 million arrivals (2020)
Also ranks #1 in population density · #2 in school enrolment (tertiary) · #2 in services value added share of gdp.
#5 Singapore
Singapore ranks #5 on this list with 83.5 years.
- Capital
- Singapore
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 6.11 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$603.87 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$98,814 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Singapore.
Also ranks #1 in gdp per capita ppp · #1 in government debt share of gdp · #1 in human capital index.
#6 Korea, Rep.
Korea, Rep. ranks #6 on this list with 83.4 years.
- Capital
- Seoul
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 51.69 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.87 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$36,227 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 81.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Seoul, Busan, Incheon.
Also ranks #1 in hospital beds per 10,000 · #2 in atms per 100,000 adults · #2 in researchers in r&d per million.
#7 Norway
Norway ranks #7 on this list with 83.2 years.
- Capital
- Oslo
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 5.61 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$530.76 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$94,594 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 83.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim.
Also ranks #2 in nurses and midwives per 1,000 · #2 in voice and accountability score · #3 in gni per capita.
#8 Australia
Australia ranks #8 on this list with 83.2 years.
- Capital
- Canberra
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 27.61 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.8 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$65,130 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 87.7% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane.
Also ranks #2 in regulatory quality score · #3 in access to clean cooking fuels · #4 in new businesses registered.
#9 Gibraltar
Gibraltar ranks #9 on this list with 83.1 years.
- Capital
- Gibraltar
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 40,126 people (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
- CO2 emissions per person
- 16.1 t CO2e per person (2024)
- Currency
- Gibraltar pound
Also ranks #1 in fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 · #1 in access to clean water · #4 in urban population share.
#10 Iceland
Iceland ranks #10 on this list with 83.1 years.
- Capital
- Reykjavík
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 392,400 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$38.58 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$98,323 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 94.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in energy use per capita · #1 in bank accounts share (adults) · #1 in water resources per capita.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Life expectancy for each country in 2020, ranked from highest to lowest.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, total (years): World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN); Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), note: Derived from male and female life expectancy at birth from sources such as statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices.; Demographic Statistics, Eurostat (ESTAT), note: Derived.
Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.