AVERAGE life expectancy is increasing slowly in Nigeria but remains lower than many poorer countries in Africa, even as longevity continues to rise globally and average life expectancy is expected to hit 90 in some developed countries by 2030.
 
While countries in Asia and Europe are witnessing rapid increase in life expectancy, countries in Africa are witnessing slower growth, due to problems of economic, social and developmental significance.
 
According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, the life expectancy at birth and at age 65 is improving globally as a result of better adult and child health, as well as improved maternal care.
 
But while the  average life expectancy for women at birth will most likely exceed 85 years, women in African countries like Nigeria may not fare as well as Asian and European counterparts, even as the gap in life expectancy between males and females shrink, according to The Lancet.
 
Higher life expectancy The large international study reveals that more countries in the developed world will continue to witness higher life expectancy than in the developing world in the next 15-30 years.
 
Overall, average life expectancy will rise in many countries by 2030, breaking through 90 years in some places,but is expected to still be relatively low in Nigeria  and policymakers  may have to make more efforts to plan for the increase in longevity.
 
Global ranking: With a current life expectancy of 54.07 years, Nigeria is ranked  216 in the world, and 16th in Africa. Thirty seven years ago,  average life expectancy in Nigeria was 44.74 years, ranking 58th in the world and 21st in Africa.
 
In 2020, the average life expectancy in Nigeria is expected to rise to 55.23 years (ranking 214 globally and 14th  in Africa), while in 2030, it will be 59.20 years (ranking 212) and by 2050, hit  68.15 (ranking  209 globally and 9th in Africa).
 
According to the “Top 100+ rank countries of the world by statistics gathered by the U.S. Census Bureau. Rankings (2012 – 2050), for   2017, Nigeria is ranked No. 3  in the world. With an estimated total population of 192,908,804 comprising 96,260,905 females and 96,647,900 males, Nigeria is the world’s 7th most populous country.
 
Nigeria’s population of persons aged 0-4 years (approx 31,329,912 ), is  the  world’s 3rd  highest  while the mortality rate of males aged 1-4 years  (60.61 per 1,000 births) is the 5th highest.
 
In Nigeria, females have an average life expectancy of 57.49 years (ranking  209 in the world), while males are ranked at 224 with an average life expectancy of 50.85 years. Average death rate in Nigeria is 12.17 per 1,000 which is 24th highest in the world.

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