Back to the Somali Scorecard

Somalia’s Life Expectancy

#2 of 193 in the Life Expectancy progress rankings

Life Expectancy at birth estimates the average number of years a newborn is expected to live given prevailing health conditions. It signals public health quality and longevity trends, offering insight into societal well‐being and medical progress (higher is better).

Latest (2023)
58.8 years
Year-over-year
+4.9 years
Change since start (1960→2023)
+15.3 years

Key insights

  • From 1960 to 2023, Life Expectancy changed by +15.3 years.
  • Most recent year-over-year change (2022→2023): +4.9 years.
  • Lowest level: 25.0 years in 1992.
  • Highest level: 58.8 years in 2023.

Life Expectancy Chart (1960–2023)

*Average based on available data from 193 UN member countries

Life Expectancy Table (1960–2023)

Life Expectancy — Somalia
Year Life Expectancy
1960 43.5 years
1961 43.7 years
1962 44.0 years
1963 44.2 years
1964 44.4 years
1965 44.6 years
1966 44.8 years
1967 45.1 years
1968 45.3 years
1969 45.5 years
1970 45.6 years
1971 45.8 years
1972 46.0 years
1973 46.2 years
1974 44.3 years
1975 44.5 years
1976 44.7 years
1977 47.0 years
1978 47.0 years
1979 47.4 years
1980 47.6 years
1981 47.8 years
1982 48.0 years
1983 48.2 years
1984 48.4 years
1985 48.3 years
1986 48.4 years
1987 49.0 years
1988 43.9 years
1989 46.6 years
1990 46.9 years
1991 25.4 years
1992 25.0 years
1993 50.6 years
1994 50.3 years
1995 50.7 years
1996 50.5 years
1997 50.3 years
1998 50.8 years
1999 50.6 years
2000 50.7 years
2001 50.8 years
2002 50.8 years
2003 50.7 years
2004 50.7 years
2005 50.9 years
2006 50.9 years
2007 50.9 years
2008 51.5 years
2009 52.1 years
2010 48.9 years
2011 32.5 years
2012 49.1 years
2013 54.0 years
2014 54.4 years
2015 55.1 years
2016 55.3 years
2017 52.2 years
2018 54.8 years
2019 57.2 years
2020 57.1 years
2021 55.7 years
2022 53.9 years
2023 58.8 years

Source: World Bank