UN Rankings: Nigeria Tops List Of Countries With Shortest Lifespan
Nigeria has been ranked as the country with the lowest life expectancy in the world, according to new data from the United Nations World Population Prospects.
The report shows that the average life expectancy in Nigeria is 54.9 years. Nigerian men live an average of 54.3 years, while women live slightly longer at 54.9 years.
This places Nigeria at the bottom of a list of 25 countries with the shortest lifespans — just below Chad (55.2 years), South Sudan, and the Central African Republic (57.7 years).
The UN report adds that 22 out of the 25 countries with the lowest life expectancy are in sub-Saharan Africa, including Lesotho (57.8 years), Somalia (59.0 years), and Mali (60.7 years).
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High maternal and infant deaths, poor healthcare access, and insecurity in some regions continue to affect life expectancy in Nigeria.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the main causes of death globally include cancer, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, and mental health conditions.
The Federal Ministry of Health has promised to improve public health facilities and expand universal health coverage, but progress has been slow.
However, medical expert Dr. Raymond Kuti disagreed with the UN figures, saying that Nigeria’s life expectancy might actually be higher.
“The criteria they use are not always accurate. They make it look like Nigerians live shorter lives than they really do,” he said.
Dr. Kuti acknowledged that diseases affect lifespan but stressed the importance of using reliable data to show the country’s true health situation.
International health agencies continue to call for more investment in healthcare, nutrition, and sanitation to help Nigerians live longer and healthier lives.
