Life Expectancy Calculator: WHO Data, HALE & Life Stage Guide
What is Life Expectancy?
Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn is expected to live, based on current age-specific mortality rates. The WHO Global Health Observatory tracks this metric for 194 member states.
Our calculator uses WHO 2023 data for 35+ countries, broken down by biological sex, which is the primary demographic variable in actuarial life tables.
Healthy Life Expectancy (HALE)
HALE measures the expected number of years lived in full health — without significant disease or disability. The global HALE gap (LE minus HALE) averages 8–9 years, representing years lived with illness.
Japan leads globally with a female HALE of 74.1 years. Lifestyle factors — regular exercise, non-smoking, Mediterranean-style diet — are associated with 7–15 years of additional healthy life per WHO evidence reviews.