Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarms over a significant 33-year disparity in life expectancy between the world’s wealthiest and poorest countries, shedding light on global health inequities. This troubling statistic was highlighted in the WHO’s ‘World Report on Social Determinants of Health Equity,’ launched on Tuesday by its Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the report underscores the crucial impact of geographical birth location on life expectancy, suggesting that individuals born in affluent nations are likely to live over three decades longer than those in impoverished regions, where safe housing, quality education, and decent employment opportunities are often lacking. The report specifies that on average, people in countries with the highest life expectancy live 33 years longer than those in countries with the lowest life expectancy.
The report also indicates that inadequate access to safe housing, educational opportunities, and decent jobs can adversely affect life expectancy across both wealthy and poor nations. Dr. Ghebreyesus emphasized the global inequality, stating, “Our world is an unequal one. Where we are born, grow, live, work and age significantly influences our health and well-being.”
Findings in the report connect health inequities to social disadvantage and discrimination levels, citing that individuals residing in more deprived areas tend to have lower incomes and, consequently, poorer health outcomes. The WHO further highlights that discrimination and marginalization, particularly affecting Indigenous Peoples, exacerbate health inequities, resulting in lower life expectancies when compared to non-Indigenous populations, regardless of the country’s income level.
This study is the first of its kind since the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health released its final report in 2008. The report sets targets for 2040 to reduce disparities in life expectancy, childhood, and maternal mortality both between and within nations. However, it cautions that these targets are likely to be missed, and despite limited data, there is ample evidence showing that health inequities are often widening.
The report provides stark examples, such as children in poorer countries being 13 times more likely to die before their fifth birthday compared to those in wealthier nations. It also highlights that nearly two million children’s lives could be saved annually by bridging the gap and enhancing equity within low- and middle-income countries.
Moreover, while maternal mortality has decreased by 40% between 2000 and 2023, the majority of these deaths, about 94%, still occur in low and lower-middle-income countries. WHO calls for collective action to tackle economic inequality and urges investments in social infrastructure and universal public services. The agency also recommends addressing structural discrimination and the determinants and impacts of conflicts, emergencies, and forced migration.