Sierra Leone has been ranked among the countries with the lowest life expectancy in the world, according to a United Nations World Population Prospects data, highlighting the country’s continuing public health and development challenges despite gradual improvements over the past two decades.

The data, shared by Data of Statistics and sourced from the UN World Population Prospects, places Sierra Leone 12th in Africa among the 25 countries with the lowest life expectancy at birth, with an average life expectancy of 62 years.

The ranking by Data of Statistics is limited to African countries, reflecting persistent challenges including poverty, infectious diseases, maternal and child mortality, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, malnutrition, and limited access to quality medical services.

According to the report, Nigeria has the world’s lowest life expectancy at 54.6 years, followed by Chad (55.2), South Sudan (57.7), Central African Republic (57.7) and Lesotho (57.8). Sierra Leone ranks below neighbouring countries such as Côte d’Ivoire (62.1) and slightly above Niger (61.4) and Burkina Faso (61.3).

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Although Sierra Leone remains among the lowest-ranked countries globally, health experts note that the country has recorded significant progress over the years.

Life expectancy has steadily increased from levels below 40 years during the country’s civil war and the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak. Improvements in immunisation, maternal and child healthcare, malaria control programmes, expanded access to primary healthcare and better disease surveillance have all contributed to longer life expectancy.

However, major challenges remain.

Non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular illnesses are becoming increasingly common, while malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases continue to place pressure on the healthcare system.

Maternal and infant mortality rates also remain among the highest in the world, although they have declined in recent years through government interventions and support from international development partners.

The life expectancy ranking comes only months after the United Nations ranked Sierra Leone among countries with low human development in a 2024 Human Development Index (HDI).

Health is one of the three key indicators used to calculate the HDI, alongside education and income. A lower life expectancy generally reflects broader socio-economic challenges affecting citizens’ overall well-being.

Economists argue that increasing life expectancy is closely linked to improvements in nutrition, sanitation, access to clean drinking water, quality healthcare, education, employment opportunities and economic growth.

The Government of Sierra Leone has continued to invest in the health sector through programmes aimed at expanding primary healthcare services, increasing immunisation coverage, strengthening disease surveillance and improving maternal and child health.

The administration has also prioritised the construction and rehabilitation of health facilities, recruitment of healthcare workers and implementation of the Free Health Care Initiative, which targets pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under five.

However, challenges persist, especially with the UK Government announcing funding cuts to the country’s health sector last year. Experts believe that this will impact maternal and infant health in the country.

Meanwhile, Development partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, the World Bank and other international agencies, continue to support Sierra Leone’s efforts to improve health outcomes.

The UN World Population Prospects data show that nearly all of the 25 countries with the world’s lowest life expectancy are in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the region’s disproportionate burden of disease and poverty.

The countries listed include Nigeria, Chad, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Lesotho, Somalia, Mali, Guinea, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Nauru, Togo, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Madagascar, Burundi, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and Guinea-Bissau.

Experts say continued investments in healthcare, education, nutrition, sanitation and economic development will be critical if countries like Sierra Leone are to significantly improve life expectancy and overall quality of life in the coming decades.