Overview
- An Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation analysis published July 24, 2026 examined data from 204 countries and found average life expectancy rose from about 64.6 years in 1990 to 73.8 years in 2023 while years lived in poor health grew from 8.8 to 10.7 years.
- Healthy-life expectancy increased from 55.9 to 63.1 years between 1990 and 2023, but the absolute gap between total life expectancy and healthy life expectancy widened, so people now spend a larger share of life with health limitations.
- The burden is uneven: wealthier, long-lived countries show the largest disease gaps (for example the United States about 14 years, Australia 13.9 years, Canada 13.7 years) and women on average spend more years in poor health than men.
- Musculoskeletal conditions (notably low back pain) and mental disorders (depression and anxiety) are the biggest contributors to extra years lived in poor health, and many cases are linked to modifiable risks such as high blood sugar, overweight, malnutrition, and smoking.
- The authors say health systems should shift toward prevention, rehabilitation and expanded chronic-care and mental-health services to reduce disability, manage rising care needs, and ease pressure on social supports and pension systems.