Countries With the Fastest Decline in Life expectancy (5-Year Change)
Change in Life expectancy over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
West Bank and Gaza fell the most: by 6.6, from 75.8 years to 69.2 years in the five years to 2024. Libya is second (−1.82), followed by Greenland (−1.14). 20 countries fell over that period; the median change among them was −0.336.
- #1
- West Bank and Gaza · −6.6
- Median
- −0.336
- Coverage
- 20 countries
- Data year
- 2024
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Bank and Gaza | 75.8 | 69.2 | −6.6 |
| 2 | Libya | 72.9 | 71.1 | −1.82 |
| 3 | Greenland | 71.4 | 70.3 | −1.14 |
| 4 | Thailand | 77.2 | 76.6 | −0.633 |
| 5 | Macao SAR, China | 83.9 | 83.3 | −0.597 |
| 6 | Germany | 81.3 | 80.8 | −0.5 |
| 7 | Mauritius | 74.2 | 73.8 | −0.447 |
| 8 | Qatar | 82.9 | 82.5 | −0.423 |
| 9 | South Sudan | 58.1 | 57.7 | −0.391 |
| 10 | Iceland | 83.2 | 82.8 | −0.353 |
| 11 | Japan | 84.4 | 84 | −0.32 |
| 12 | Türkiye | 77.7 | 77.4 | −0.316 |
| 13 | Lebanon | 78.2 | 77.9 | −0.263 |
| 14 | Singapore | 83.6 | 83.3 | −0.249 |
| 15 | Barbados | 76.5 | 76.3 | −0.163 |
| 16 | Netherlands | 82.1 | 82 | −0.146 |
| 17 | Venezuela, RB | 72.8 | 72.7 | −0.093 |
| 18 | Canada | 82.2 | 82.1 | −0.051 |
| 19 | New Zealand | 82.1 | 82 | −0.046 |
| 20 | Dominica | 71.3 | 71.3 | −0.011 |
About the top 10
#1 West Bank and Gaza
West Bank and Gaza ranks #1 on this list with −6.6.
- Capital
- Ramallah, East Jerusalem
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 5.41 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$17.17 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,171 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 69.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 87.4% of population (2025)
Also ranks #5 in unemployment rate · #10 in crop production index · #12 in population density.
#2 Libya
Libya ranks #2 on this list with −1.82.
- Capital
- Tripoli
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 7.46 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$48.1 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$6,449 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 87.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Tripoli.
Also ranks #1 in natural resource rents share of gdp · #1 in oil rents share of gdp · #2 in industry value added share of gdp.
#3 Greenland
Greenland ranks #3 on this list with −1.14.
- Capital
- Nuuk
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 56,831 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.33 billion (2023)
- GDP per person
- US$58,499 (2023)
- Life expectancy
- 70.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 88.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #4 in political stability score · #9 in gross capital formation rate · #10 in protected terrestrial area share.
#4 Thailand
Thailand ranks #4 on this list with −0.633.
- Capital
- Bangkok
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 71.62 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$577.01 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$8,057 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 62.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Bangkok, Chiang Mai.
Also ranks #5 in tourism arrivals · #10 in tourism receipts · #11 in manufacturing value added share of gdp.
#5 Macao SAR, China
Macao SAR, China ranks #5 on this list with −0.597.
- 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.
#6 Germany
Germany ranks #6 on this list with −0.5.
- Capital
- Berlin
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 83.49 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$5.05 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$60,496 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 80.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 82.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Berlin, Hamburg, Munich.
Also ranks #2 in tourism receipts · #3 in gdp (current us$) · #3 in exports of goods and services.
#7 Mauritius
Mauritius ranks #7 on this list with −0.447.
- Capital
- Port Louis
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 1.24 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$16.16 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$12,991 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 39% of population (2025)
Also ranks #6 in cereal yield · #11 in low-birthweight babies share · #15 in population density.
#8 Qatar
Qatar ranks #8 on this list with −0.423.
- Capital
- Doha
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 2.97 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$215.56 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$72,525 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 99.4% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Doha.
Also ranks #1 in male population share · #1 in population ages 15-64 share · #1 in labour force participation rate.
#9 South Sudan
South Sudan ranks #9 on this list with −0.391.
- Capital
- Juba
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 12.19 million people (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 57.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 21.7% of population (2025)
- Currency
- South Sudanese pound
- Official languages
- English
Also ranks #1 in infant mortality rate · #4 in inflation rate · #4 in maternal mortality ratio.
#10 Iceland
Iceland ranks #10 on this list with −0.353.
- 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
Change in Life expectancy over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed.
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 (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.