Has global life expectancy increased?

Yes. In 1950, the average global life expectancy was about 46 years. Today, it exceeds 72 years, according to UN data. Improvements in healthcare, sanitation, and nutrition have driven this increase. Many people live healthier lives well into old age, a dramatic change compared to past centuries. Challenges remain, including health inequities between countries, but the long-term trend shows clear progress. Media literacy helps people contextualize short-term health crises, like COVID-19, against this broader trajectory of improvement. Evidence-based health statistics confirm that human beings are living longer, healthier lives than ever before.