United Kingdom vs United States
United Kingdom vs United States: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 81.3 years in United Kingdom and 79.3 years in United States, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in United Kingdom, by 2 years, or 1.03 times that in United States.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- United Kingdom has been higher since 1986, when it overtook United States.
- In 2023, United Kingdom ranked 42 and United States ranked 59 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts United Kingdom at 90.6 years and United States at 89.2 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | United Kingdom | United States | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 81.3 | 79.3 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 81.1 | 78 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 80.7 | 76.4 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 80.4 | 77 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 81.4 | 78.9 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 81.1 | 78.8 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 81.2 | 78.7 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 81.1 | 78.7 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 80.9 | 78.7 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 81.2 | 78.9 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 80.9 | 78.8 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 80.9 | 78.8 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 80.8 | 78.7 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 80.4 | 78.7 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 80.2 | 78.5 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 79.7 | 78.1 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 79.5 | 78.1 | 69 |
| 2006 | 79.4 | 77.8 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 79.1 | 77.5 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 78.9 | 77.5 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 78.3 | 77.1 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 78.2 | 77 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 78.1 | 76.9 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 77.9 | 76.8 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 77.4 | 76.7 | 66 |
| 1998 | 77.3 | 76.7 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 77.1 | 76.5 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 76.9 | 76.2 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 76.6 | 75.9 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 76.7 | 75.7 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 76.2 | 75.6 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 76.3 | 75.8 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 75.9 | 75.5 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 75.7 | 75.4 | 64 |
| 1989 | 75.4 | 75.1 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 75.3 | 74.8 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 75.2 | 74.9 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 74.8 | 74.7 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 74.5 | 74.7 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 74.7 | 74.7 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 74.3 | 74.6 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 74 | 74.5 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 73.9 | 74.1 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 73.6 | 73.7 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 73.2 | 73.8 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 73 | 73.4 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 73.1 | 73.2 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 72.6 | 72.8 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 72.7 | 72.5 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 72.4 | 72 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 72.2 | 71.4 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 72 | 71.2 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 72.2 | 71.1 | 56 |
| 1970 | 71.9 | 70.7 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 71.7 | 70.5 | 56 |
| 1968 | 71.7 | 70.2 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 72.1 | 70.5 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 71.4 | 70.2 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 71.5 | 70.3 | 54 |
| 1964 | 71.5 | 70.2 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 70.8 | 69.9 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 70.9 | 70.1 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 70.8 | 70.3 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 71 | 69.8 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 70.8 | 69.9 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 70.7 | 69.7 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 70.5 | 69.4 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 70.4 | 69.6 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 70.1 | 69.6 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 70.2 | 69.5 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 69.8 | 68.7 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 69.5 | 68.4 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 68.2 | 68.2 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 68.6 | 68.1 | 46.4 |
| 1949 | 68.1 | 67.6 | – |
| 1948 | 68.4 | 67.2 | – |
| 1947 | 66.4 | 66.8 | – |
| 1946 | 66.2 | 66.1 | – |
| 1945 | 65.8 | 65.6 | – |
| 1944 | 64.8 | 65.1 | – |
| 1943 | 64 | 64.4 | – |
| 1942 | 64 | 64.5 | – |
| 1941 | 61.3 | 63.8 | – |
| 1940 | 60.9 | 63.2 | – |
| 1939 | 63.6 | 63.1 | – |
| 1938 | 63.2 | 62.4 | – |
| 1937 | 61.8 | 61 | – |
| 1936 | 61.8 | 60.4 | – |
| 1935 | 62 | 60.9 | – |
| 1934 | 61.3 | 60.2 | – |
| 1933 | 60.6 | 60.9 | – |
| 1932 | 60.5 | 61 | – |
| 1931 | 60 | 60.3 | – |
| 1930 | 60.8 | 59.6 | – |
| 1929 | 57.6 | 58.5 | – |
| 1928 | 59.9 | 58.3 | – |
| 1927 | 59 | 59.4 | – |
| 1926 | 59.6 | 57.9 | – |
| 1925 | 58.4 | 58.5 | – |
| 1924 | 58.1 | 58.5 | – |
| 1923 | 59.3 | 57.5 | – |
| 1922 | 57 | 58.1 | – |
| 1921 | 58.1 | 58.2 | – |
| 1920 | 57.3 | 55.4 | – |
| 1919 | 54.3 | 55.3 | – |
| 1918 | 47.3 | 47.2 | – |
| 1917 | 54.2 | 54 | – |
| 1916 | 54.2 | 54.2 | – |
| 1915 | 51.2 | 55.1 | – |
| 1914 | 53.2 | 54.6 | – |
| 1913 | 53.4 | 53.5 | – |
| 1912 | 54.3 | 54.1 | – |
| 1911 | 51.2 | 53.4 | – |
| 1910 | 53.3 | 51.8 | – |
| 1909 | 51.7 | 52.8 | – |
| 1908 | 51 | 51.9 | – |
| 1907 | 50.6 | 50.2 | – |
| 1906 | 49.6 | 50.1 | – |
| 1905 | 49.9 | 50.3 | – |
| 1904 | 48.2 | 49.6 | – |
| 1903 | 49.5 | 50.6 | – |
| 1902 | 48.4 | 50.5 | – |
| 1901 | 46.9 | 49.3 | – |
| 1900 | 45.6 | – | – |
| 1899 | 45.2 | – | – |
| 1898 | 46.1 | – | – |
| 1897 | 46.5 | – | – |
| 1896 | 47.1 | – | – |
| 1895 | 45.4 | – | – |
| 1894 | 48.3 | – | – |
| 1893 | 44.7 | – | – |
| 1892 | 45.6 | – | – |
| 1891 | 44.4 | – | – |
| 1890 | 44.1 | 45.2 | – |
| 1889 | 45.9 | – | – |
| 1888 | 46.3 | – | – |
| 1887 | 45.1 | – | – |
| 1886 | 44.6 | – | – |
| 1885 | 44.6 | – | – |
| 1884 | 43.6 | – | – |
| 1883 | 44 | – | – |
| 1882 | 44 | – | – |
| 1881 | 45.1 | – | – |
| 1880 | 43 | 39.4 | – |
| 1879 | 43.5 | – | – |
| 1878 | 42 | – | – |
| 1877 | 43.7 | – | – |
| 1876 | 42.7 | – | – |
| 1875 | 41.5 | – | – |
| 1874 | 42.1 | – | – |
| 1873 | 43.3 | – | – |
| 1872 | 42.7 | – | – |
| 1871 | 41.1 | – | – |
| 1870 | 40.6 | – | – |
| 1869 | 41.3 | – | – |
| 1868 | 41.7 | – | – |
| 1867 | 42 | – | – |
| 1866 | 40.1 | – | – |
| 1865 | 39.8 | – | – |
| 1864 | 39.6 | – | – |
| 1863 | 40.4 | – | – |
| 1862 | 42.1 | – | – |
| 1861 | 41.6 | – | – |
| 1860 | 42 | – | – |
| 1859 | 40.4 | – | – |
| 1858 | 39.6 | – | – |
| 1857 | 40.9 | – | – |
| 1856 | 42.5 | – | – |
| 1855 | 40.7 | – | – |
| 1854 | 39.5 | – | – |
| 1853 | 40 | – | – |
| 1852 | 40.4 | – | – |
| 1851 | 41 | – | – |
| 1850 | 42.8 | – | – |
| 1849 | 37.7 | – | – |
| 1848 | 39.9 | – | – |
| 1847 | 38.5 | – | – |
| 1846 | 40.2 | – | – |
| 1845 | 42.2 | – | – |
| 1844 | 41.2 | – | – |
| 1843 | 41.6 | – | – |
| 1842 | 41 | – | – |
| 1838 | 40.6 | – | – |
| 1833 | 40.9 | – | – |
| 1828 | 41.4 | – | – |
| 1823 | 40.5 | – | – |
| 1818 | 40.8 | – | – |
| 1813 | 41.3 | – | – |
| 1808 | 40.6 | – | – |
| 1803 | 40 | – | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | United Kingdom | United States | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 81.580.6–82.3 | 79.578.5–80.5 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 81.680.3–82.8 | 79.678.2–80.9 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 81.880.2–83.3 | 79.878.1–81.4 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 81.980–83.7 | 79.978–81.7 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 8279.9–83.9 | 80.177.8–82.1 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 82.279.9–84.3 | 80.277.7–82.4 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 82.479.9–84.6 | 80.477.7–82.8 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 82.579.9–84.9 | 80.577.7–83.1 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 82.779.9–85.1 | 80.777.6–83.4 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 82.879.9–85.4 | 80.877.5–83.7 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 82.979.9–85.6 | 8177.5–84 | 75 |
| 2035 | 83.179.8–85.9 | 81.177.5–84.3 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 83.279.9–86.1 | 81.377.5–84.6 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 83.479.9–86.2 | 81.477.4–84.8 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 83.579.8–86.5 | 81.677.4–85 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 83.679.8–86.7 | 81.777.5–85.3 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 83.879.8–87 | 81.877.5–85.4 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 83.980–87.3 | 8277.5–85.7 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 8479.9–87.6 | 82.177.5–85.9 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 84.279.9–87.8 | 82.377.6–86.1 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 84.379.9–88 | 82.477.5–86.4 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 84.579.9–88.3 | 82.577.8–86.6 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 84.680.2–88.4 | 82.777.7–86.8 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 84.780–88.6 | 82.877.7–87 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 84.880.1–88.9 | 8377.9–87.2 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 84.980.2–89.1 | 83.177.8–87.2 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 85.180.2–89.2 | 83.277.9–87.5 | 77 |
| 2051 | 85.280.4–89.5 | 83.478.1–87.8 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 85.380.6–89.7 | 83.578–88.1 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 85.580.7–90 | 83.778–88.3 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 85.680.8–90.2 | 83.878.1–88.6 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 85.780.8–90.4 | 83.978.4–88.7 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 85.880.8–90.5 | 84.178.2–88.9 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 85.980.8–90.9 | 84.278.4–89.4 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 86.180.9–91 | 84.378.6–89.5 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 86.281.1–91.1 | 84.478.5–89.7 | 78 |
| 2060 | 86.381.1–91.3 | 84.678.7–90 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 86.481.2–91.5 | 84.778.6–90.1 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 86.581.3–91.8 | 84.878.7–90.4 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 86.681.4–92 | 8578.8–90.5 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 86.881.3–92.2 | 85.178.9–90.7 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 86.981.6–92.4 | 85.278.8–90.7 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 8781.7–92.5 | 85.379.1–90.8 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 87.181.8–92.8 | 85.579.4–90.8 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 87.281.7–92.9 | 85.679.3–91 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 87.381.9–93.1 | 85.779.3–91.4 | 79 |
| 2070 | 87.481.9–93.4 | 85.879.6–91.8 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 87.582.2–93.4 | 85.979.4–91.9 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 87.682.1–93.7 | 8679.5–92.1 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 87.882.3–93.8 | 86.279.6–92.1 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 87.982.3–93.9 | 86.379.6–92.3 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 8882.4–94 | 86.479.9–92.4 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 88.182.3–94.2 | 86.579.7–92.6 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 88.282.4–94.5 | 86.679.7–92.7 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 88.382.6–94.7 | 86.779.9–93 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 88.482.5–94.8 | 86.879.8–93.3 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 88.582.6–94.9 | 8780.2–93.5 | 80 |
| 2081 | 88.682.5–95.1 | 87.180–93.7 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 88.782.5–95.4 | 87.280.1–93.7 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 88.882.5–95.5 | 87.380.3–93.9 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 88.982.6–95.6 | 87.480.3–94 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 8982.7–95.8 | 87.580.3–94.2 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 89.182.8–96.2 | 87.680.6–94.5 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 89.283–96.4 | 87.880.6–94.7 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 89.382.9–96.6 | 87.980.2–94.7 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 89.482.9–96.8 | 8880.7–95 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 89.582.9–96.9 | 88.180.9–95.1 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 89.683.1–97 | 88.280.7–95.4 | 81 |
| 2092 | 89.883.1–97.1 | 88.381–95.6 | 81 |
| 2093 | 89.983.2–97.2 | 88.481–95.8 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 9083.3–97.4 | 88.581.3–95.9 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 90.183.2–97.5 | 88.681.5–96 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 90.283.3–97.6 | 88.781.4–96.2 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 90.383.4–97.7 | 88.981.1–96.3 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 90.483.5–98 | 8981.5–96.6 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 90.583.4–98 | 89.181.5–96.5 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 90.683.7–98.3 | 89.281.5–96.7 | 81.7 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How long a newborn would live on average if the year’s death rates held all its life.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- Before 1950: Our World in Data, long-run life expectancy.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
United Kingdom vs United States
Health
- Child mortalityUnited Kingdom: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024United States: 0.7 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityUnited Kingdom: 3.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023United States: 5.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterUnited Kingdom: 99.8% in 2022United States: 97.5% in 2022
- DepressionUnited Kingdom: 4.12% in 2017United States: 4.84% in 2017
- Suicide rateUnited Kingdom: 7.4 per 100,000 people in 2017United States: 12.8 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationUnited Kingdom: 68.7 million people in 2023United States: 344 million people in 2023
- Population growthUnited Kingdom: 0.7% a year in 2023United States: 0.58% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateUnited Kingdom: 1.56 births per woman in 2023United States: 1.62 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationUnited Kingdom: 83.3% in 2025United States: 80.2% in 2025
- Median ageUnited Kingdom: 39.8 years in 2023United States: 38 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overUnited Kingdom: 19.2% in 2023United States: 17.4% in 2023
- Net migration rateUnited Kingdom: 6.5 per 1,000 people in 2023United States: 3.9 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personUnited Kingdom: $48,420 in 2025United States: $67,950 in 2025
- GDP growthUnited Kingdom: 1.2% a year in 2025United States: 2.3% a year in 2025
- InflationUnited Kingdom: 3.4% a year in 2025United States: 2.7% a year in 2025
- Government debtUnited Kingdom: 102.1% of GDP in 2025United States: 124.4% of GDP in 2025
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingUnited Kingdom: 2.35% of GDP in 2025United States: 3.12% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsUnited Kingdom: $88B in 2025United States: $929B in 2025
- Military spending per personUnited Kingdom: $1,283 in 2025United States: $2,755 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingUnited Kingdom: 5.4% of government spending in 2025United States: 8.3% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelUnited Kingdom: 153,000 people in 2020United States: 1.4 million people in 2020
- National powerUnited Kingdom: 1.25% of world capability in 2022United States: 12.36% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersUnited Kingdom: 0.45% of the labour force in 2020United States: 0.84% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsUnited Kingdom: 609 million TIV in 2025United States: 745 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsUnited Kingdom: 702 million TIV in 2025United States: 14 billion TIV in 2025