According to our life expectancy data, a child born in Monaco can expect to live 89.5 years. A child born in Afghanistan? Just 52.8 years. This 36.7-year gap represents one of the starkest inequalities in human wellbeing.
Data accurate as of January 2026.
Longest Life Expectancy
Source: MyLifeElsewhere
| # | Country | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monaco | 89.5 |
| 2 | Singapore | 86.3 |
| 3 | Japan | 86.0 |
| 4 | Switzerland | 84.3 |
| 5 | Italy | 84.0 |
Shortest Life Expectancy
Source: MyLifeElsewhere
| # | Country | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Afghanistan | 52.8 |
| 2 | Lesotho | 53.0 |
| 3 | Somalia | 54.0 |
| 4 | Central African Rep. | 54.4 |
| 5 | Chad | 55.1 |
Why Such Extremes?
Monaco's 89.5-year figure reflects its unusual population: the tiny city-state houses some of the world's wealthiest residents, with World Bank data showing per capita income exceeding $200,000. Strict residency requirements mean the population skews toward wealthy, healthy individuals—a statistical advantage no typical country enjoys.
Afghanistan's 52.8 years reflects compounding crises. World Bank figures show healthcare spending of just $50 per person annually. UNICEF reports one of the world's highest maternal mortality rates—when many die young, the average plummets.
Explore Related Metrics
Life expectancy connects to many other indicators in our database. High-longevity countries typically show higher health spending and lower infant mortality. Our full life expectancy rankings let you see where any country stands.
Use our country comparison tool to compare Monaco vs Afghanistan across dozens of quality of life metrics, or see how Japan vs the US differ despite both being wealthy nations.