Life Expectancy - Ranking 2008
In 2008, Andorra (83.9), Monaco (83.8), and San Marino (82.9) ranked highest in life expectancy among all countries. Lesotho ranked lowest at 44.3.
Data & analysis
- San Marino — 86.15
- Monaco — 85.93
- Liechtenstein — 85.37
- Andorra — 84.57
- Hong Kong SAR, China — 84.36
In 2025, the global life expectancy ranking reveals a stark divide between wealthy microstates and fragile low-income nations. The top five are dominated by European microstates and special administrative regions, with San Marino leading at 86.15 years and Monaco at 85.93 years, both benefiting from universal healthcare systems and high standards of living. At the bottom, the Central African Republic languishes at 47.72 years, a figure reflecting decades of armed conflict and weak public health infrastructure. A key structural reason for the bottom’s lag is the prevalence of infectious diseases and maternal mortality, which are largely preventable but persist due to limited medical access. As the data year is 2025, future shifts in the leaderboard may depend on whether rapidly aging high-income societies can sustain their healthcare gains against chronic diseases, or whether targeted global health investments can lift the lowest-ranked nations above 60 years.
| Rank | Country | Value | YoY % |
|---|---|---|---|