Humanity, despite all obstacles, stubbornly refuses to give up. Global health is demonstrating a steady recovery. According to a recent report by the World Health Organization published in early October 2026, global life expectancy reached 73.3 years by the end of 2023. This figure is very close to the 2019 level (73.4 years).
Healthy life expectancy is also showing a positive trend, reaching 62.8 years. This indicates that humanity is successfully overcoming the consequences of the acute crisis caused by COVID-19. "Living longer is one of the great achievements of public health," note WHO experts.
However, the risk landscape is shifting. Scientists note a global epidemiological transition: currently, 74% of deaths worldwide are due to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. For the first time, even in low-income countries, communicable diseases accounted for less than half of all deaths.
The new challenge for global medicine is not just to increase overall life expectancy, but to ensure that these additional years are lived in good health and that healthcare systems are prepared for an aging population.