Few numbers carry as much weight as the one that estimates how long you might live. Life expectancy isn’t just a statistic — it’s a window into the health of populations, the impact of lifestyle choices, and the gaps between countries. In 2025, the global average sits at about 73.5 years, but the range is vast: from over 86 years in Monaco to around 54 years in Chad. Here’s a data-driven look at who lives longest, what shapes those years, and the odds of reaching 80 or 90.
U.S. life expectancy (2024): 79.0 years ·
Female life expectancy (U.S.): 81.4 years ·
Male life expectancy (U.S.): 76.5 years ·
Global average life expectancy: 73.8 years ·
Highest life expectancy country: Monaco (86.2 years)
Quick snapshot
- Females have higher life expectancy than males globally (OECD (intergovernmental organization))
- Smoking reduces life expectancy by 10–12 years (CDC (U.S. public health agency))
- Japan and Monaco consistently rank among the highest (Database.earth (population data aggregator))
- Exact impact of specific blood types on longevity
- Whether Jesus’ blood type can be determined historically
- U.S. life expectancy at birth rose from ~47 years in 1900 to 79.0 years in 2024 (CDC National Center for Health Statistics (U.S. federal statistical agency))
- Continued focus on reducing smoking and obesity could further raise life expectancy (WHO (United Nations health agency))
The pattern is clear: the global average masks extremes that depend entirely on where and how you live.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Global average life expectancy | 73.8 years |
| U.S. average life expectancy | 79.0 years |
| Highest life expectancy (Monaco) | 86.2 years |
| Lowest life expectancy (Chad) | 54.3 years |
| Years lost due to smoking | 10–12 years |
How rare is it to live until 80?
Only about half of newborns in the U.S. are expected to reach age 80, according to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics (U.S. federal statistical agency). That’s a sobering starting point. The odds improve if you’re already past childhood, but for a baby born today, hitting 80 is roughly a coin flip.
What are the odds of living to 90 years old?
For women, the chance of living to 90 is about 1 in 3; for men, it’s about 1 in 4, per actuarial data from the Social Security Administration (U.S. government actuarial agency). Those odds rise if you’re already 70, but for a newborn, reaching 90 is far from guaranteed.
At what age do most people pass away?
The average age at death in the U.S. is around 78–79 years, based on 2024 CDC mortality data. Most deaths cluster after age 70, with the highest rates in the 75–85 range. The implication: the majority of people live well into their later years, but the gap between men and women persists.
Reaching 80 is not a given — it depends heavily on where you live, your habits, and your genetics. The U.S. lags behind other developed nations, partly due to higher rates of chronic disease.
The implication: survival to 80 is a coin flip that geography and lifestyle can tip in your favor.
Which country is no 1 in life expectancy?
Monaco tops the 2025 projections at 86.6 years, according to Database.earth (population data aggregator). Japan is close behind at 85.0 years, and Hong Kong, Switzerland, and Australia all sit above 84 years. The pattern is clear: wealthy, stable nations with strong healthcare systems dominate the top.
Five countries, one pattern: the highest life expectancies cluster in small, affluent territories and nations with universal healthcare and low smoking rates.
| Country | Life expectancy (years) |
|---|---|
| Monaco | 86.6 |
| San Marino | 85.9 |
| Hong Kong (China) | 85.8 |
| Japan | 85.0 |
| Switzerland | 84.2 |
What this means: geography matters enormously. Moving from a low-life-expectancy country to a high one can add decades. But even within the top tier, differences of 1–2 years reflect real differences in diet, exercise, and healthcare access.
What is the life expectancy in Ireland?
Ireland’s life expectancy stands at about 82.6 years in 2024, according to the CSO Ireland (Irish national statistics office). That places Ireland above the U.S. but slightly below the top five. The country has seen steady gains thanks to improved healthcare and lifestyle changes.
The pattern: national wealth and healthcare quality are the strongest predictors of longevity.
Which body type lives the longest?
Research consistently links normal weight with moderate fat distribution to longer life. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (peer-reviewed medical journal) found that both underweight and severe obesity reduce life expectancy by 5–10 years. Muscular, athletic body types tend to have lower mortality rates.
Who lives longer, skinny or fat?
Neither extreme is good. People who are underweight (BMI below 18.5) face higher mortality from frailty and disease, while those with severe obesity (BMI above 35) lose years to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The sweet spot is a BMI in the normal to overweight range — 22 to 27 — especially if accompanied by regular physical activity.
For a 40-year-old man with a BMI of 35, the expected lifespan may be 5 years shorter than a peer with a BMI of 24. The trade-off: maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most effective ways to extend life without medical intervention.
The takeaway: BMI in the normal-to-overweight range, combined with regular activity, offers the best odds for a long life.
Which blood type lives longest?
Some studies suggest that people with O blood type may have a slight edge. A large review in Circulation Research (American Heart Association journal) found that type O individuals have lower risks of heart disease and certain cancers. The effect is modest — a few years at most — but consistent across populations.
What blood type rarely gets sick?
Type O appears to be associated with lower rates of severe infections and clotting disorders. However, the evidence is not strong enough to recommend lifestyle changes based on blood type. The benefit is small compared to factors like smoking and diet.
What was Jesus’ blood type?
There is no scientific way to determine the blood type of a historical figure from 2,000 years ago. Speculation ranges from O to AB, but all blood types are possible. The question is a curiosity, not a medical fact.
The pattern: blood type matters at the margins, but lifestyle choices dwarf its effect on longevity.
What reduces life expectancy the most?
Smoking is the single largest preventable factor, cutting life short by 10 to 12 years on average, reports the CDC (U.S. public health agency). Obesity is close behind, reducing life expectancy by 5 to 10 years depending on severity. Air pollution, poor diet, and physical inactivity each shave off 1 to 3 years, according to the WHO (United Nations health agency).
Three factors, one pattern: the biggest killers are largely preventable. Smoking alone accounts for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the U.S. — more than alcohol, drugs, and car accidents combined.
A 30-year-old smoker who quits today can regain nearly all of the lost years by age 50. The opposite is also true: each additional year of smoking costs about 3 months of life expectancy.
The implication: quitting smoking is the single most powerful step anyone can take to extend their life.
Confirmed facts
- Females have higher life expectancy than males globally
- Smoking is the largest preventable factor reducing life expectancy
- Japan and Monaco consistently rank among the highest
What’s unclear
- Exact impact of specific blood types on longevity
- Whether Jesus’ blood type can be determined historically
“Life expectancy at birth in the United States in 2024 was 79.0 years, with females outliving males by nearly 5 years.”
CDC National Center for Health Statistics (U.S. federal statistical agency)
“Monaco leads the world with a projected life expectancy of 86.6 years in 2025, driven by a combination of wealth, healthcare access, and lifestyle.”
“Ireland’s life expectancy reached 82.6 years in 2024, reflecting steady improvements in public health and medical care.”
The takeaway is clear: the years you have are shaped by decisions you make and the environment you live in. For someone in the U.S. today, the single most effective choice is to quit smoking, maintain a healthy weight, and stay active. That alone can add a decade or more. The alternative is to accept the average — and the average, while higher than ever, still leaves room for improvement.
worldometers.info, en.wikipedia.org, ceoworld.biz, visualcapitalist.com, macrotrends.net, oecd.org, worlddata.info, statranker.org, statranker.org, worldeconomics.com
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of life expectancy?
Life expectancy is the average number of years a person is expected to live based on current mortality rates. It is calculated from birth unless specified otherwise.
How is life expectancy calculated?
It is derived from life tables that use age-specific death rates for a given population and year. The result is a statistical average, not a prediction for any individual.
Why is life expectancy higher in Japan?
Japan benefits from a low-fat diet, universal healthcare, high physical activity, and strong social support networks. It also has very low rates of obesity and violent crime.
Can exercise increase life expectancy?
Yes. Regular physical activity lowers the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Studies estimate that 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week can add 3–5 years.
What is the life expectancy of a 70-year-old?
For a 70-year-old in the U.S., the average remaining life expectancy is about 15–16 years (to age 85–86), according to CDC tables. The number is higher for women than men.
Does marriage affect life expectancy?
Married people tend to live longer than unmarried ones, partly due to social support, shared resources, and healthier behaviors. The effect is stronger for men.
What is the average life expectancy for a smoker?
Smokers lose an average of 10–12 years compared to non-smokers. A smoker’s life expectancy is roughly 68–70 years in the U.S., depending on pack-years and cessation.
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Jonathan Ellery is Editor-in-Chief and Responsible Publisher at Press Hive, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and the corrections process.