The latest figures show that Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation and one of its largest economies, has the lowest life expectancy in the world, with the average person expected to live just 54.6 years. This is approximately 32 years less than Monaco, which tops the global ranking for life expectancy.
Other African countries with life expectancies under 60 years include Chad (55.2 years), South Sudan (57.7), Central African Republic (57.7), and Lesotho (57.8).
Ongoing political instability, conflict, inadequate healthcare systems, and poverty continue to suppress life expectancy across much of the region.
Nauru, a tiny island nation in Oceania, is the only non-African country on the list, with an average life expectancy of 62.3 years.
The gender divide is also evident, with women outliving men in nearly all these countries, sometimes by several years. The widest gender gap is in Mozambique, where women live an average of 6.2 years longer than men. Guinea is the only country on the list where men slightly outlive women.
Despite the grim figures, the report notes encouraging progress. Africa's average life expectancy rose from 53.7 years in 2000 to 63.8 years in 2023, a significant improvement over two decades.
Countries such as South Sudan and Niger, while still ranked low in life expectancy, are among the fastest-growing economies, offering hope that sustained development could eventually translate into longer, healthier lives for their citizens.
Looking ahead, the UN projects that Africa's average life expectancy will reach 66 years by 2035 and over 68 years by 2050, though still trailing behind the global average.
Here is the full list of countries with the lowest life expectancy, according to the UN data:
| Rank | Country | Life Expectancy (Overall) |
| 1 | Nigeria | 54.6 years |
| 2 | Chad | 55.2 |
| 3 | South Sudan | 57.7 |
| 4 | Central African Rep. | 57.7 |
| 5 | Lesotho | 57.8 |
| 6 | Somalia | 59.0 |
| 7 | Mali | 60.7 |
| 8 | Guinea | 60.9 |
| 9 | Benin | 61.0 |
| 10 | Burkina Faso | 61.3 |
| 11 | Niger | 61.4 |
| 12 | Sierra Leone | 62.0 |
| 13 | Côte d'Ivoire | 62.1 |
| 14 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 62.1 |
| 15 | Liberia | 62.3 |
| 16 | Nauru | 62.3 |
| 17 | Togo | 62.9 |
| 18 | Zimbabwe | 63.1 |
| 19 | Kenya | 63.8 |
| 20 | Madagascar | 63.8 |
| 21 | Burundi | 63.8 |
| 22 | Mozambique | 63.8 |
| 23 | Equatorial Guinea | 63.9 |
| 24 | Cameroon | 64.0 |
| 25 | Guinea-Bissau | 64.3 |
Wycliffe Nyamasege
