Nigeria has emerged at the bottom of global life expectancy rankings, with citizens living an average of 54.9 years, according to fresh data from the United Nations World Population Prospects report.
The statistics reveal a marginal gender gap, with Nigerian males averaging 54.3 years whilst females reach 54.9 years. Chad follows closely behind Nigeria with 55.2 years, whilst South Sudan and the Central African Republic share third place at 57.7 years.
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Sub-Saharan Africa dominates the lower end of the life expectancy spectrum, accounting for 22 of the 25 countries with the shortest lifespans globally. Nations including Lesotho (57.8 years), Somalia (59.0 years) and Mali (60.7 years) also feature prominently on the list.
Healthcare professionals point to several contributing factors behind Nigeria’s poor showing, including elevated rates of maternal and newborn deaths, inadequate medical infrastructure, and ongoing security challenges across multiple regions.
The World Health Organisation has identified non-communicable diseases such as cancer, heart conditions, diabetes, and mental health issues as leading causes of mortality and disability worldwide, factors which heavily impact developing nations.
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health has announced intentions to expand universal healthcare access and modernise public health systems, though implementation remains sluggish.
Medical practitioner Dr Raymond Kuti has challenged the UN’s findings, suggesting Nigeria’s actual life expectancy may exceed reported figures. “The criteria they use is always faulty. They just want us to believe that we have a low lifespan,” he argued, whilst acknowledging disease burden impacts longevity.
Dr Kuti emphasised the necessity for reliable, locally generated health data to accurately represent Nigeria’s demographic realities rather than relying solely on external assessments.
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Global health bodies maintain their call for substantial investments in healthcare delivery, nutritional programmes, and sanitation infrastructure to elevate living standards and extend life expectancy across Nigeria.
