Do developing countries have a low life expectancy?

Asked by: Eula Wiza  |  Last update: November 6, 2023
Score: 4.5/5 (28 votes)

The average life expectancy in the 91 sample developing countries was about 60 years. In the present analysis we found a logarithmic relationship between per capita income and life expectancy; it increases at a decreasing rate as income rises.

Why is life expectancy lower in developing countries?

Generally, wealthier countries have a higher average life expectancy than poorer countries [2,3,4], which can be argued to be achieved through higher standards of living, more effective health systems, and more resources invested in determinants of health (e.g. sanitation, housing, education) [5].

Do less developed countries have lower life expectancies?

The link between infant mortality and life expectancy, and the tendency for less developed countries to have higher level of infant mortality and lower life expectancy at birth, is one of the key explanations for the socioeconomic inequalities that exist across these countries.

Why do developing countries have high life expectancy?

This sharp incline in life expectancy of low-income countries is attributed to a greater access to aid programs and organizations than ever before. A Stanford study found that countries receiving the most health aid gained five or more years in average life expectancy.

Which countries have the lowest life expectancy and why?

According to World Population Review, these countries have the lowest life expectancy.
  • Lesotho (55)
  • Central African Republic (55)
  • South Sudan (57)
  • Somalia (57)
  • Eswatini (58)
  • Namibia (60)
  • Guinea (60)
  • Mali (60)

How Does Income Relate to Life Expectancy by Professor Hans Rosling

17 related questions found

Why is life expectancy so low in Africa?

One of the biggest health issues that Africa has been plagued with is the HIV/AIDS epidemic. HIV/AIDS has tragically claimed many lives in Africa, which is a large reason why life expectancy was so low. Treating these diseases was difficult at the height of the epidemic, so many Africans unfortunately died.

Is life expectancy in developing countries increasing?

Life expectancy in developing countries is growing fast. The world has experienced a "population explosion," but, because of birth control measures, the world population should stabilize gradually in the next century. Life expectancy is expected to keep increasing.

What factors affect life expectancy?

Significant factors in life expectancy include gender, genetics, access to health care, hygiene, diet and nutrition, exercise, lifestyle, and crime rates. Evidence-based studies indicate that longevity is based on two major factors, genetics, and lifestyle choices.

Do developing countries have high or low death rates?

In fact, most developing countries have very low death rates because their age structure favors a younger population. Conversely, the most developed countries have higher death rates, resulting from a rapidly aging population.

Is death rate higher or lower in developed countries?

Higher crude death rates can be found in some developed countries, despite high life expectancy, because typically these countries have a much higher proportion of older people, due to lower recent birth rates and lower age-specific mortality rates.

Do developed countries have slow population growth?

The social structure, religious beliefs, economic prosperity and urbanisation within each country are likely to affect birth rates as well as abortion rates, Developed countries tend to have a lower fertility rate due to lifestyle choices associated with economic affluence where mortality rates are low, birth control ...

What are the reasons for shorter life expectancy of the poor?

Not just being poor, but living in areas blighted by poverty can mean a shorter life span and a stolen future for many people. Underperforming schools, few job opportunities, higher crime rates, poor nutrition and food access, lack of health care and housing all add up to shorter, unhealthier, impoverished lives.

What race lives the longest?

Asian people have the longest average life expectancy (83.5 years) and American Indian/Alaska Natives the shortest (65.2 years).

What does a higher life expectancy mean for a country?

It represents the average life span of a newborn and is an indicator of the overall health of a country. Life expectancy can fall due to problems like famine, war, disease and poor health. Improvements in health and welfare increase life expectancy. The higher the life expectancy, the better shape a country is in.

What is the range of mortality rates for developing countries?

In 2010-2015, the under-five mortality rate in the less developed regions was 54 per 1,000, more than nine times as high as in the more developed regions, where it stood at 6 per 1,000 live births. During 2010-2015, the least developed countries had a higher level of under-five mortality, 86 per 1,000 live births.

Why do Japanese people live longer?

There is some evidence that Japanese people have good genes which aid their longevity. Studies have suggested two genes in particular – DNA 5178 and the ND2-237Met NDgenotype – help the Japanese live longer by protecting them against some adult-onset diseases.

Why does Nigeria have such a low life expectancy?

“Nigeria's lower life expectancy is partially due to having more deaths in children of 5 years and younger than any other country in the world, including more populous India and China and countries experiencing widespread long-term conflict, such as Somalia,” the report stated.

Why is the life expectancy so different between certain countries?

There are several individual factors intrinsically tied to a longer life expectancy around the world (eg, education, income, malnutrition) [4-8]. Such factors can interplay with access to health care in varying ways based on location, social factors, and health care system.

Where is the US ranked for life expectancy?

Life expectancy for men and women

A male child born in the United States today will live to be 73.5 years old on average. This puts the male citizens of the US in 42nd place in this ranking. On average, US women are 5.8 years older, reaching an age of 79.3.

How does poverty affect life expectancy?

Poverty was inversely related to life expectancy. Individuals living in poverty had 10.5 years lower life expectancy at age 18 than those with incomes ≥400% of the poverty threshold.

Why Afghanistan has low life expectancy?

The economy is largely agricultural and half the cultivated land must be irrigated. 85% of the population live in rural areas and another 2.5 million are nomads. The low status of women and female children, low levels of health care, and high fertility contribute to the lower life expectancy of females over males.

Why do developed countries grow slower?

Developing countries have the potential to grow at a faster rate than developed countries because diminishing returns (in particular, to capital) are not as strong as in capital-rich countries. Furthermore, poorer countries can replicate the production methods, technologies, and institutions of developed countries.

Do developing countries grow faster?

The catch-up effect is a theory that all economies will eventually converge in terms of per capita income, due to the observation that underdeveloped economies tend to grow more rapidly than wealthier economies.