Low income Countries Ranked by Life expectancy (2024)
Life expectancy: each country's latest value (2019–2024), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Korea, Dem. People's Rep. ranks #1 with 73.7 years. Syrian Arab Republic is second with 72.6 years, 1.6% behind. The top five are Korea, Dem. People's Rep., Syrian Arab Republic, Yemen, Rep., Eritrea and Uganda. The median across all 25 is 63.8 years; Chad is last at 55.2 years. Korea, Dem. People's Rep.'s figure has risen 21% since 2000 (60.9 years to 73.7 years in 2024).
- #1
- Korea, Dem. People's Rep. · 73.7 years
- Median
- 63.8 years
- Coverage
- 25 Low income countries
- Data year
- 2024
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | Life expectancy (years) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Korea, Dem. People's Rep. | 73.7 |
| 2 | Syrian Arab Republic | 72.6 |
| 3 | Yemen, Rep. | 69.4 |
| 4 | Eritrea | 68.9 |
| 5 | Uganda | 68.5 |
| 6 | Rwanda | 68 |
| 7 | Ethiopia | 67.6 |
| 8 | Malawi | 67.6 |
| 9 | Sudan | 66.5 |
| 10 | Afghanistan | 66.3 |
| 11 | Gambia, The | 66.1 |
| 12 | Guinea-Bissau | 64.3 |
| 13 | Madagascar | 63.8 |
| 14 | Burundi | 63.8 |
| 15 | Mozambique | 63.8 |
| 16 | Liberia | 62.3 |
| 17 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 62.1 |
| 18 | Sierra Leone | 62 |
| 19 | Niger | 61.4 |
| 20 | Burkina Faso | 61.3 |
| 21 | Mali | 60.7 |
| 22 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 59 |
| 23 | South Sudan | 57.7 |
| 24 | Central African Republic | 57.7 |
| 25 | Chad | 55.2 |
About the top 10
#1 Korea, Dem. People's Rep.
Korea, Dem. People's Rep. ranks #1 on this list with 73.7 years.
- Capital
- Pyongyang
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 26.57 million people (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 64.2% of population (2025)
- CO2 emissions per person
- 2.5 t CO2e per person (2024)
- Currency
- North Korean won
Largest cities: Pyongyang.
Also ranks #2 in hospital beds per 10,000 · #3 in armed forces personnel · #6 in female labour force participation.
#2 Syrian Arab Republic
Syrian Arab Republic ranks #2 on this list with 72.6 years.
- Capital
- Damascus
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 25.62 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$23.74 billion (2022)
- GDP per person
- US$1,057 (2022)
- Life expectancy
- 72.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 72.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Damascus, Aleppo.
Also ranks #2 in refugee population by origin · #2 in agriculture value added share of gdp · #3 in net migration.
#3 Yemen, Rep.
Yemen, Rep. ranks #3 on this list with 69.4 years.
- Capital
- Sanaa, Aden
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 41.77 million people (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 69.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 37% of population (2025)
- International tourist arrivals
- 398,000 arrivals (2015)
- CO2 emissions per person
- 0.261 t CO2e per person (2024)
Also ranks #2 in prevalence of stunting (under-5) · #2 in prevalence of wasting (under-5) · #12 in unemployment rate.
#4 Eritrea
Eritrea ranks #4 on this list with 68.9 years.
- Capital
- Asmara
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 3.61 million people (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 68.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 34.5% of population (2025)
- International tourist arrivals
- 142,000 arrivals (2016)
- CO2 emissions per person
- 0.22 t CO2e per person (2024)
Also ranks #5 in time to start a business (days) · #9 in refugee population by origin · #12 in female labour force participation.
#5 Uganda
Uganda ranks #5 on this list with 68.5 years.
- Capital
- Kampala
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 51.39 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$61.99 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,206 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 68.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 31.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kampala.
Also ranks #6 in renewable energy share · #6 in refugee population by asylum · #7 in agricultural land share.
#6 Rwanda
Rwanda ranks #6 on this list with 68 years.
- Capital
- Kigali
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 14.57 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$16.37 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,124 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 68 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 30.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kigali.
Also ranks #1 in women in parliament share · #2 in school enrolment (primary) · #2 in pupil-teacher ratio (primary).
#7 Ethiopia
Ethiopia ranks #7 on this list with 67.6 years.
- Capital
- Addis Ababa
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 135.47 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$126.36 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$932.7 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 24.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Addis Ababa.
Also ranks #3 in children out of school (primary) · #6 in rural population · #6 in gdp growth rate.
#8 Malawi
Malawi ranks #8 on this list with 67.6 years.
- Capital
- Lilongwe
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 22.22 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$14.92 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$671.5 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 17.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in school enrolment (primary) · #3 in pupil-teacher ratio (primary) · #3 in poverty headcount ratio.
#9 Sudan
Sudan ranks #9 on this list with 66.5 years.
- Capital
- Khartoum
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 51.66 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$60.16 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,165 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 66.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 34.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Khartoum, Omdurman.
Also ranks #2 in inflation rate · #4 in children out of school (primary) · #5 in refugee population by origin.
#10 Afghanistan
Afghanistan ranks #10 on this list with 66.3 years.
- Capital
- Kabul
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 43.84 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$17.78 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$416.9 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 66.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 25.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kabul.
Also ranks #1 in refugee population by origin · #4 in health expenditure share of gdp · #6 in agriculture value added share of gdp.
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: each country's latest value (2019–2024), 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.