Global life expectancy rebounds to 73.3 years, but WHO warns on mental health and aging

Global life expectancy rebounded to 73.3 years in 2023, nearly matching the pre-pandemic level of 73.4 years from 2019, according to WHO estimates released October 2. However, the organization warns of a historic surge in non-communicable diseases. Healthy life expectancy recovered more slowly to 62.8 years, still 0.4 years below 2019. Non-communicable diseases caused 74% of global deaths in 2023, up from 58% in 2000, with ischemic heart disease alone killing about 9.5 million people. Alzheimer's and other dementias rose from the 19th to 5th leading cause of death since 2000, with deaths tripling. Age-adjusted healthy years lost increased roughly 20% for depressive disorders and 45% for anxiety disorders between 2019 and 2023.