Africa gained 10 years of life expectancy in two decades

People across Africa gained an average of 10 years of life expectancy between 2000 and 2019, according to findings included in the World Health Organization's 2026 annual report. Healthy life expectancy rose by 9 years over the same period. In 2000, the average person on the continent could expect good health until age 46. By 2019, that line had moved to 55, and overall life expectancy reached 64. Algeria and Tunisia climbed higher still, rivaling some American states. Much of the gain came from fewer child deaths and better maternal care, since every early death drags the average sharply down. The rest came largely from expanded access to antiretroviral medication and tighter control of malaria and TB. The numbers held even through wars, famine, and economic collapse across the same two decades. More children are now growing up with both parents alive, which means more parents are living long enough to become grandparents.