Do you know the 10 African countries where citizens die early, according to the World Bank? Well, let us take a look at them and see if your country is one of them.
Globally, life expectancy is on the increase, with many people living longer; however, in 10 countries in Africa, the latest life expectancy data from the World Bank shows that people are dying younger.
In all 10 African countries, citizens’ life expectancy is less than 60 years. What it means is that, on average, people in this country die before they turn 60 years old.
However, the average global life expectancy is 73.16 years as of 2023, which was a 0.24% increase in the 2022 life expectancy. In 2024, it was 72.81 years.
What this means is that, on average, citizens of these 10 African countries will die 13 years earlier than their colleagues in other parts of the world.
10 African countries where citizens die early, according to the World Bank
In Africa, Chad has the lowest life expectancy, and per the data, citizens on average die by the age of 52.5 years. Nigerians follow, with an average life expectancy of 52.7 years.
In the Central African Republic, life expectancy is only 53.9 years; in South Sudan, it is 55 years; and Somalia completes the top 5 countries with an average life expectancy of 55.3 years.
Among the countries, Mozambique has the best life expectancy of 59.3 years.
Eswatini, Mali, Guniea, and Congo, Dem Rep, complete the least in the 6 to 9 position in that order.
| Rank | Country | Life expectancy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chad | 52.5 years |
| 2 | Nigeria | 52.7 years |
| 3 | Central African Republic | 53.9 years |
| 4 | South Sudan | 55.0 years |
| 5 | Somalia | 55.3 years |
| 6 | Eswatini | 57.1 years |
| 7 | Mali | 58.9 years |
| 8 | Guniea | 58.9 years |
| 9 | Congo, Dem Rep | 59.2 years |
| 10 | Mozambique | 59.3 years |
It is important to put on record that countries with more developed health services have a high life expectancy. To help improve the life expectancy of citizens of all countries, political leaders need to make conscious efforts towards investing in quality health care services.
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The World Bank has indicated that quality primary health care, immunization, sanitation, access to safe drinking water, and safe motherhood initiatives all contribute to better health services, and when accessed by citizens, their life expectancy improves.
The menace of COVID-19 negatively affected global life expectancy, according to the World Bank.