February 04, 2025 We can expect to live more than twice as long as our ancestors in 1900. As the chart shows, global average life expectancy was just 32 years at the beginning of the 20th century. This was a short life by today’s standards: in 2023, the average life expectancy had increased to 73 years. That’s 41 years longer. This remarkable increase is due to improved living standards, like better nutrition and