The 15 countries with the highest life expectancies — and the 15 with the lowest

Monaco has the highest life expectancy in the world. Simona Sirio/Getty Images The World Bank Group ranked life expectancy in different countries around the world. High mortality among infants and children significantly lowers the life expectancy at birth. Monaco and San Marino had the highest life expectancies, while Nigeria and Chad had the lowest. Jeanne Calment was the oldest verified person to have ever lived, passing away at 122. Despite Calment's extraordinary longevity, her home country, France, ranks 19th in the world for average life expectancy. The World Bank Group collected data on life expectancy at birth by country through 2024. Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn is expected to live if mortality patterns remain the same throughout their life. The countries ranked highest tend to be wealthier, with robust healthcare systems and lower rates of early-life mortality .