Countries with the Lowest Life Expectancy (2026) (2024)
Source: World Bank·25 countries·Updated 2024
Low life expectancy reflects severe health and development challenges. In 2024, {#1} has the lowest life expectancy at just {#1_value} years.
Nigeria leads with life expectancy at birth of 54.6 years.
Chad ranks #2 at 55.2 years.
Central African Republic ranks #3 at 57.7 years.
South Sudan ranks #4 at 57.7 years.
Lesotho ranks #5 at 57.8 years.
Bottom 25 Countries by Life Expectancy at Birth
| # | Country | Life Expectancy at Birth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Nigeria | 54.6 years | 2024 |
| 2 |  Chad | 55.2 years | 2024 |
| 3 |  Central African Republic | 57.7 years | 2024 |
| 4 |  South Sudan | 57.7 years | 2024 |
| 5 |  Lesotho | 57.8 years | 2024 |
| 6 |  Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 59.0 years | 2024 |
| 7 |  Mali | 60.7 years | 2024 |
| 8 |  Guinea | 60.9 years | 2024 |
| 9 |  Benin | 61.0 years | 2024 |
| 10 |  Burkina Faso | 61.3 years | 2024 |
| 11 |  Niger | 61.4 years | 2024 |
| 12 |  Sierra Leone | 62.0 years | 2024 |
| 13 |  Congo, Dem. Rep. | 62.1 years | 2024 |
| 14 |  Cote d'Ivoire | 62.1 years | 2024 |
| 15 |  Nauru | 62.3 years | 2024 |
| 16 |  Liberia | 62.3 years | 2024 |
| 17 |  Togo | 62.9 years | 2024 |
| 18 |  Zimbabwe | 63.1 years | 2024 |
| 19 |  Mozambique | 63.8 years | 2024 |
| 20 |  Burundi | 63.8 years | 2024 |
| 21 |  Kenya | 63.8 years | 2024 |
| 22 |  Madagascar | 63.8 years | 2024 |
| 23 |  Equatorial Guinea | 63.9 years | 2024 |
| 24 |  Cameroon | 64.0 years | 2024 |
| 25 |  Guinea-Bissau | 64.3 years | 2024 |
Data from 217 countries is available. View full rankings →
FAQ
What is the lowest life expectancy at birth in 2024?
Nigeria has the lowest life expectancy at birth at 54.6 years in 2024.
How many countries are included in this ranking?
This article features the bottom 25 countries out of 217 with available data. Full rankings available on the indicator page.
Where does this data come from?
Data is sourced from the World Bank. It is updated regularly as new releases become available.