Global Life Expectancy Surged By 6.2 Years Since 1990 - Report

A new study published in The Lancet on Thursday has revealed that the average global life expectancy has increased by over six years since 1990.

The study also indicated that life expectancy in India has risen by nearly eight years over the past three decades.

Global Life Expectancy Surged By 6.2 Years Since 1990 - S

The progress observed in life expectancy is attributed to reductions in mortality rates from leading causes such as diarrhoea, lower respiratory infections, stroke, and ischemic heart disease. However, the report noted that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 significantly disrupted this progress, reported as Hindustan Times.

In the South Asia region, which includes India, Bhutan experienced the largest increase in life expectancy by 13.6 years, followed by Bangladesh (13.3 years), Nepal (10.4 years), and Pakistan (2.5 years).

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the super region of Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania achieved the largest net gain in life expectancy between 1990 and 2021, primarily due to reductions in deaths from chronic respiratory diseases, stroke, lower respiratory infections, and cancer.

The effective management of the pandemic in this region helped preserve these gains. The study presents updated estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2021, as reported Hindustan.

It highlights major shifts in the leading causes of death globally, with Covid-19 emerging as the second-leading cause of death worldwide and "Other pandemic-related death" ranking fifth among leading causes of deaths in 2021.

Furthermore, the research reveals significant improvements in life expectancy driven by reductions in deaths from various diseases. For instance, decreases in deaths from enteric diseases and lower respiratory infections contributed to a notable increase in global life expectancy between 1990 and 2021.

At the regional level, Eastern sub-Saharan Africa witnessed the largest rise in life expectancy, primarily due to advancements in controlling diarrheal diseases. The study underscores the importance of targeted interventions to address specific diseases and reduce mortality rates further, as per media reports.

Additionally, the study highlights growing challenges posed by non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and kidney diseases, which are on the rise globally. Despite progress in reducing deaths from non-communicable diseases in high-income countries, disparities persist, emphasizing the need for equitable access to healthcare resources worldwide.