According to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report, global average life expectancy has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, yet the number of years lived in good health is increasing at a much slower pace. The Global Health Estimates (GHE) report, published on October 2, indicates that global average life expectancy reached 73.3 years in 2023, just 0.1 years lower than the 73.4 years recorded in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, the pandemic triggered a sharp decline, dropping this figure to 71.5 years in 2021.

Healthy Life Expectancy Trends and Disease Burden

WHO experts emphasize that the recovery in overall life expectancy is a remarkable global health achievement, but the next challenge is ensuring that these additional years are also years of good health. In 2023, the average number of healthy life years reached 62.8 years, 0.4 years lower than the pre-crisis level in 2019. Furthermore, significant structural shifts in the disease burden have been recorded: mortality from dementia has tripled, and health impairments related to anxiety and depression have surged sharply in the wake of the pandemic.

Leading Causes of Death and COVID-19 Exiting the Top 10

According to the organization, 61 million deaths were registered worldwide in 2023, with approximately 33 million linked to 10 leading causes. Non-communicable diseases accounted for 8 of these 10 causes and currently represent 74% of all global deaths, compared to 58% in 2000. Ischaemic heart disease remained the leading cause of death in 2023, accounting for 16% of all deaths, followed by stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Notably, COVID-19 dropped out of the top ten leading causes of death, falling to 14th place with 900,000 direct deaths in 2023 compared to 9.4 million in 2021, while HIV/AIDS deaths decreased by 62% since 2020.

Regional Disparities and Public Health Challenges

Analysis of the report reveals significant territorial differentiation: between 2000 and 2023, the Americas experienced the largest increase in mortality risk and the greatest reduction in healthy life years. In contrast, the Western Pacific region showed significant improvement. Alain Labrique, WHO Director for Data, noted that the global community must reorient healthcare strategies from merely extending biological life to preventing age-related and non-communicable pathologies.