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The recent report that Nigeria has the worst life expectancy in the world is disturbing. The United Nations World Population Prospects data for 2025 place the country’s life expectancy at 54.9 years. This shows a decrease from previous years. It was third-lowest in last year’s global life expectancy report. The report also revealed that 22 of the 25 countries with the lowest life expectancy rates are in sub-Saharan Africa.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines life expectancy as the average number of years a person can expect to live in “full health” from birth, taking into account years lived with disease and injury. According to the global health agency, this is a statistical estimate based on current mortality and ill-health rates and is a key indicator of a population’s health and a country’s development. It can also vary significantly based on geographical location, historical period, and other socioeconomic variables. Similarly, the World Bank defines life expectancy as the number of years a new born infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.
Sadly, Nigeria came last on the list of 25 countries with the lowest life expectancy rate, ahead of Chad (55.2years), South Sudan (57.7 years), Central African Republic (57.7 years) and Lesotho, 57.8 years. Nigeria’s low ranking is attributable to prevalent health crisis, high rates of infant and maternal mortality, poor sanitation, malnutrition, preventable diseases like malaria and lack of access to quality healthcare. Other indicators are poverty and insecurity which inevitably lead to poor living conditions and premature deaths. According to the report, Nigeria ranked 161 out of 175 of countries with the safest environment for women to live in the world. This is ominous considering that Nigeria prides itself as the giant of Africa.
After 26 years of unbroken democratic rule, Nigeria’s life expectancy is supposed to be on the rise. The new report that we are the worst in life expectancy ranking is unacceptable. The government must invest so much in the health sector and reduce the prices of food items. In Nigeria, the average life expectancy is 54.6 years. For men, it is 54.3 years and for women it is 54.9 years.
The top four countries with the highest life expectancy rate in the world are Monaco 87 years, San Marino 86 years, Japan 85 years, and South Korea 85 years. In a country with over 139 million people living in acute poverty despite economic stability, according to the latest report from the World Bank, it is not a surprise that Nigeria’s life expectancy has been adjudged the worst in the world. The bank had observed that while recent results from reforms such as fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification and fiscal policy adjustments are stabilising the economy, their impact on poverty alleviation has been limited because of high inflation, especially food inflation. Although the federal government dismissed the report, the reality on ground justifies it.
Similarly, the World Food Programme (WFP) has disclosed that about 673 million people or nearly 8 per cent of the global population are suffering from hunger. The UN agency said that export restrictions, tariffs, inflation and volatile commodity prices are making food less available in poor countries. Unfortunately, the agency listed Nigeria as one of the 8 countries facing acute food insecurity. It also said that out of almost 700million people living in extreme poverty globally, two-thirds live in sub-Saharan Africa.
In fact, the latest life expectancy rate in Nigeria reflects the poor quality of life in the country. It should worry all tiers of government in the country. The development is a wake-up call on them to improve the living standard of Nigerians. They must jointly address our poor health systems, poor living conditions and acute food shortage. The economic hardship must be equally reduced.
We must begin to upgrade the dilapidated infrastructure in many hospitals in the country, including teaching and specialist hospitals. Government should widen the access to health and boost its agenda for universal health coverage through the provision of national health insurance scheme for all citizens. State governments should equally invest many resources in the health sector and improve their primary health centres.
The situation is made worse by the current brain drain where doctors and other medical personnel are fleeing the country in droves in search of greener pastures. Many women die during childbirth. Across Nigeria, millions of people resort to self-medication because they cannot afford medical services. Preventable diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and waterborne diseases contribute to poor life expectancy in the country and must be tackled.
The budgetary allocation to health is abysmally low and should be significantly increased.
