WHO: global life expectancy nears pre-pandemic level but healthy years lag
The WHO's latest Global Health Estimates say global life expectancy was 73.3 years in 2023, just under the 2019 level of 73.4. Healthy life expectancy has recovered more slowly, and mental health burden and dementia deaths have risen.
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The story, neutrally told
The World Health Organization said on 2 October, in its Global Health Estimates, that global life expectancy reached 73.3 years in 2023, close to the 73.4 years recorded in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic. Anadolu AgencyN “Global life expectancy reached 73.3 years in 2023, close to the 73.4 years seen in 2019” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The Straits TimesRC “Life expectancy reached 73.3 years in 2023 – close to the 73.4 years recorded in 2019 before the pandemic struck” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Life expectancy had fallen to 71.5 years in 2021 during the pandemic. The Straits TimesRC “The coronavirus crisis plunged global life expectancy down to 71.5 years in 2021.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Healthy life expectancy recovered more slowly, reaching 62.8 years in 2023, which is 0.4 years below its 2019 level. Anadolu AgencyN “reaching 62.8 years in 2023, still 0.4 years below its 2019 level” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The Straits TimesRC “standing at 62.8 years in 2023 – 0.4 years below the 2019 level” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Alain Labrique, who heads the WHO's data department, said living longer is one of public health's great achievements and that the next challenge is to ensure the extra years are lived in good health. Anadolu AgencyN ““Living longer is one of the great achievements of public health,” said Alain Labrique” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The Straits TimesRC ““The next challenge is to ensure that those additional years are lived in good health, while health systems adapt to respond to the changing needs of populations.”” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Between 2019 and 2023 the global age-standardised rate of healthy life lost rose about 20% for depressive disorders and nearly 45% for anxiety disorders; together they accounted for an estimated 110 million years of healthy life lost in 2023. Anadolu AgencyN “climbed about 20% for depressive disorders and nearly 45% for anxiety disorders”“Together, depression and anxiety accounted for an estimated 110 million years of healthy life lost through premature death and disability in 2023.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Noncommunicable diseases caused 74% of the 61 million deaths worldwide in 2023, up from 58% in 2000, and made up eight of the ten leading causes of death. The Straits TimesRC “Of the 61 million deaths worldwide in 2023, the 10 leading causes accounted for 33 million.”“NCDs now account for 74 per cent of global deaths, up from 58 per cent in 2000” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Ischaemic heart disease remained the biggest killer, responsible for 16% of deaths, with deaths rising from 3 million to 9.5 million between 2000 and 2023; stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease followed. The Straits TimesRC “The world’s biggest killer is ischaemic heart disease, responsible for 16 per cent of deaths.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Dementia became the fifth-leading cause of death in 2023, killing 2.1 million people, up from 19th place in 2000, with deaths tripling. Anadolu AgencyN “Dementia became the fifth-leading cause of death globally in 2023, up from 19th in 2000, with deaths tripling over the period.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The Straits TimesRC “Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia came fifth in 2023, killing 2.1 million people.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Covid-19 fell out of the top ten causes of death for the first time since the pandemic began, with about 900,000 direct deaths in 2023 (14th), compared with 9.4 million in 2021 when it ranked first. The Straits TimesRC “It fell to 900,000 directly attributable deaths in 2023, making it the 14th leading cause of death.” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Deaths from HIV and AIDS have fallen 62% since 2020, and the disease dropped from seventh leading cause of death in 2000 to 22nd in 2023. The Straits TimesRC “Deaths from HIV and AIDS have fallen by 62 per cent since 2020” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Between 2000 and 2023, the Americas region saw the largest increases in risk of mortality and healthy life loss, while the Western Pacific saw substantial declines; Anadolu reports this in relation to drug use disorders. Anadolu AgencyN “with the Americas seeing the largest increases in the risk of mortality and healthy life loss, while the Western Pacific saw substantial declines.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The Straits TimesRC “the WHO Americas region recorded the largest increases in risk of mortality and healthy life loss, while the Western Pacific saw substantial declines.” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with the gap between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy and the growing mental health burden.
- Emphasis
- Anxiety and depression increases, the 110 million healthy years lost, and the Labrique quote.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits the 2021 low, Covid-19's fall from the top causes of death, and the leading causes of death such as heart disease.
- For example
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“Healthy life loss linked to anxiety disorders up nearly 45% since 2019, while depressive disorders see around 20% jump, says UN agency” — Anadolu Agency
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with the pandemic's impact and recovery of life expectancy, in AFP wire copy.
- Emphasis
- Leading causes of death, Covid-19 dropping out of the top ten, and the fall in HIV/AIDS deaths.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the specific anxiety and depression percentages or the 110 million figure.
- For example
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“The coronavirus crisis plunged global life expectancy down to 71.5 years in 2021.” — The Straits Times
What every side reports
- Life expectancy was 73.3 years in 2023 versus 73.4 in 2019.
- Healthy life expectancy was 62.8 years in 2023, 0.4 below 2019.
- NCDs account for 74% of deaths, up from 58% in 2000.
- Dementia ranks fifth among causes of death in 2023.
World Health Organization organisation
Presents life expectancy as nearly recovered but says the challenge now is ensuring added years are healthy, as health systems adapt to changing needs.
“The next challenge is to ensure that those additional years are lived in good health” — The Straits Times
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Global life expectancy nears pre-pandemic level, but healthy years lag behind: WHO
Neutral Reports the WHO estimates with focus on mental health and the healthy-years gap.
Right1 article
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The Straits TimesRC · · via AFP
Life expectancy almost back to pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels, says WHO
Neutral AFP wire copy centred on recovery from Covid-19 and the leading causes of death.
- 2 Oct 12:40 First Anadolu AgencyN Global life expectancy nears pre-pandemic level, but healthy years lag behind: WHO
- 2 Oct 14:18 +1h 37m The Straits TimesRC Life expectancy almost back to pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels, says WHO via AFP
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.