Iceland, Italy, Japan and Sweden will lead the world in life expectancy in 2025, with babies born that year likely to live to 82, the World Health Organization predicted Monday.
Americans born in 2025 can expect to live to 80, three years longer than their current prospects, WHO said.Sierra Leone will fare the worst, with babies born in that West African country likely to live only an average of 51 years. The life expectancy of babies born now is 38 years, the U.N. agency said in its annual World Health Report.
Not only are people living longer, but in some countries older people are staying healthier.
"It suggests that we are slowly learning one of life's most important lessons: not just how to live longer but also how to stay longer in good health with less disability," said outgoing Director-General Hiro-shi Nakajima.
Afflictions like cancer, cardiovascular ailments and diabetes remain major concerns, but the report shows that deaths from heart disease have been dramatically reduced in many countries where people exercise more and eat better diets.