Global Life Expectancy Rebounds, but Rising Youth Deaths Sound Alarm: The Lancet Report 2025
A major study published in The Lancet on October 12, 2025, has reported that global life expectancy has rebounded to pre-COVID-19 levels, marking an encouraging milestone in global health recovery. However, the report also highlights a troubling trend—rising mortality among adolescents and young adults in several parts of the world, pointing to an emerging global health crisis.
Background: The Global Burden of Disease Study
The report is part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2023, conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and published in The Lancet. It provides one of the most comprehensive analyses of mortality and life expectancy across 204 countries and territories between 1950 and 2023. It was funded by Gates foundation.
Key Findings of the Global Burden of Disease Study
Life Expectancy Gains:
Global life expectancy in 2023 reached 76.3 years for females and 71.5 years for males.
This represents an improvement of over 20 years since 1950.
Mortality Reduction:
Age-standardized death rates have fallen by 67 % globally since 1950.
However, progress remains uneven across regions.
Emerging Crisis in Youth Mortality:
Death rates among adolescents and young adults (ages 15–39) have increased in some regions.
In North America, mortality in this group is rising due to drug overdoses, alcohol use, and suicide.
Latin America reports similar patterns, while Sub-Saharan Africa continues to see deaths linked to infectious diseases, injuries, and maternal complications.
Shifting Disease Burden:
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) now account for two-thirds of all deaths worldwide.
Top contributors include heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory illnesses.
Infectious diseases have declined but still remain significant in low-income regions.
Preventable Deaths:
About half of global disease burden could be reduced by addressing modifiable risk factors—high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, air pollution, and high blood sugar.
Regional Disparities:
Life expectancy exceeds 80 years in high-income countries but remains around 60–62 years in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Uneven Progress Across the Globe in Life Expectancy
While global averages have improved, the report underscores the persistent gap between high- and low-income regions. Wealthier nations have benefited from better access to healthcare, improved sanitation, and disease prevention programs. Conversely, many lower-income nations continue to face challenges including undernutrition, infectious diseases, and limited healthcare infrastructure.
The study also points out that even within countries, socioeconomic inequalities play a major role in determining life expectancy, access to medical care, and exposure to environmental risks.
Young Adults: The New Health Priority
The most concerning finding from the 2025 report is the increasing death rate among adolescents and young adults. Experts describe this as a “hidden epidemic,” largely fueled by behavioral and social risk factors such as substance abuse, road injuries, and suicide.
In wealthier nations, opioid and alcohol misuse have become dominant causes of premature death among younger populations. Meanwhile, in developing countries, preventable conditions such as infectious diseases and unsafe childbirth remain key threats to youth survival.
Preventive Health and Policy Implications
Researchers emphasize the importance of investing in preventive healthcare, especially for younger age groups. Strengthening mental health services, addressing substance abuse, and improving social and economic support systems are among the recommended strategies.
At the same time, efforts to manage non-communicable diseases must start earlier in life through lifestyle interventions, health education, and improved access to screening and treatment.
Reference
Murray, Christopher J. L., et al. “Global Burden of Disease 2023 Study.” The Lancet, vol. 406, no. 10378, 2025, pp. 1345–1372.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01330-3/fulltext
(Rh/eth/ TL)
