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Home » Latest » Data & Strategy » Revealed: 20 countries with the lowest life expectancy (at birth) in the world?

Data & Strategy

Revealed: 20 countries with the lowest life expectancy (at birth) in the world?

life expectancy

The average life expectancy in a country serves as a valuable indicator of various factors, including economic development, quality of life, healthcare systems, and overall well-being. Globally, there is a noticeable disparity in life expectancy between high-income and low-income nations. According to a recent study by CEOWORLD magazine in collaboration with the COSMOS Analytica Institute, the data reveals the 20 countries with the lowest life expectancy at birth. Notably, all of these countries are located on the African continent, and many of them face significant developmental challenges. Below, we present an overview of these countries with the lowest life expectancy.

The average life expectancy in the Central African Republic is approximately 53.42 years, which is notably lower by around 31 years compared to Hong Kong, known for having the highest life expectancy in the world. The Central African Republic faces significant challenges that contribute to this disparity, including the impacts of prevalent diseases, high poverty levels, inadequate infrastructure, political instability, and restricted access to essential healthcare services. Addressing these humanitarian challenges is crucial for improving the overall well-being of the population.

Countries With the Lowest Life Expectancy, 2025

RankCountryRegionAverage Life Expectancy (Years)FemaleMaleDifference
1Central African RepublicAfrica53.4256.6250.236.39
2LesothoAfrica53.5156.7550.46.35
3ChadAfrica53.855.2152.412.8
4Sierra LeoneAfrica54.0754.8553.241.61
5NigeriaAfrica54.1855.0853.31.78
6SomaliaAfrica56.9458.6655.293.37
7Ivory Coast [Côte d'Ivoire]Africa57.2558.5756.072.5
8South SudanAfrica57.4358.9455.952.99
9Guinea-BissauAfrica57.8259.7155.83.91
10Equatorial GuineaAfrica58.2559.4157.272.14
11MaliAfrica58.7159.4657.961.5
12CameroonAfrica58.7760.0257.532.49
13Eswatini [Swaziland]Africa59.3163.8855.178.71
14MozambiqueAfrica60.0562.8557.015.84
15Democratic Republic of the Congo [DR Congo]Africa60.2161.7458.73.04
16TogoAfrica60.5361.3759.671.7
17AngolaAfrica60.5463.4257.835.59
18ZimbabweAfrica60.8362.2259.163.06
19Burkina FasoAfrica60.9261.660.111.49
20BurundiAfrica61.0362.859.223.58

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License and Republishing: The views in this article are the author’s own and do not represent CEOWORLD magazine. No part of this material may be copied, shared, or published without the magazine’s prior written permission. For media queries, please contact: info@ceoworld.biz. © CEOWORLD magazine LTD

Lila Jones, D.Litt.
Lila Jones, D.Litt. in Global Communications and Media Convergence, is the Senior Business News Editor at CEOWORLD Magazine, where she curates and leads international editorial content focusing on financial strategy and executive communications. Based in Dubai and New York, Lila brings over a decade of experience covering global markets, corporate governance, and brand positioning.

She previously worked as a financial correspondent for a major Middle Eastern news outlet and later transitioned into strategic communications for multinational firms in the energy and tech sectors. Lila’s editorial leadership is characterized by precision, global fluency, and a strong sense of storytelling. At CEOWORLD, she manages a cross-border team that produces content on capital markets, CEO profiling, and corporate storytelling.

Lila holds an MBA in Finance and a certificate in Media and Strategic PR from a top European university. She is also a recurring guest lecturer at business schools and a panelist on ESG and diversity in leadership. Lila believes in empowering executives with the content they need to lead confidently on the world stage, and her work at CEOWORLD reflects that mission—offering insight-rich reporting and strategy-driven features that resonate across industries and cultures.

Email Lila Jones at lila@ceoworld.biz