Research Highlights Growing Disparity Between Lifespan and Healthspan

WHO:

BBC Science Focus Magazine - Dr. Marie Ng, associate professor at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS)

BBC Science Focus Magazine - Dr. Julian Mutz, research fellow at King’s College London

BBC Science Focus Magazine - Prof. Simon Jones, from the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing

WHAT:

Ground News - Life expectancy is increasing worldwide, but people are spending more time in poor health at the end of their lives.

Ground News - In 1990, people spent an average of 8.8 years in poor health; this increased to 10.7 years in 2023.

BBC Science Focus Magazine - Singapore has the highest life expectancy, with citizens expected to live beyond their 85th birthday.

BBC Science Focus Magazine - Singaporeans spend an average of 11.2 years in poor health.

BBC Science Focus Magazine - Global life expectancy rose from 64.6 years in 1990 to 73.8 years in 2023.

BBC Science Focus Magazine - The average healthspan gap for women globally is 12.1 years, compared to 9.3 years for men.

BBC Science Focus Magazine - In the US, people can expect to spend 14 years in poor health, the highest among countries studied.

WHERE:

BBC Science Focus Magazine - Singapore has the highest life expectancy.

BBC Science Focus Magazine - The US has the largest morbidity gap.

WHEN:

BBC Science Focus Magazine - The study used data from 2023 to estimate lifespans in 204 countries.

BBC Science Focus Magazine - The study indicates that the gap between lifespan and healthspan is widening in 203 out of 204 countries, with Palestine as the exception.

WHY:

BBC Science Focus Magazine - The increase in years spent in poor health is attributed to chronic conditions like back pain, hearing loss, neurological disorders, and diabetes.

HOW:

BBC Science Focus Magazine - The study evaluated global data to assess life expectancy and healthspan across different countries.

(UPDATED July 28, 2026 07:55 UTC)

A recent study reveals that while life expectancy is rising globally, people are spending more years in poor health, with the average increasing from 8.8 years in 1990 to 10.7 years in 2023. Singapore boasts the highest life expectancy, with citizens expected to live beyond their 85th birthday, yet they also spend an average of 11.2 years in poor health, while Americans face the largest morbidity gap at 14 years. The research, which analyzed data from 204 countries, indicates that the gap between lifespan and healthspan is widening in 203 out of those countries, primarily due to chronic conditions like back pain and diabetes.