Global Study: People Are Living Longer — But Also Longer in Illness

The Global Disease Gap

Globally, people spent around 8.8 years of their lives in poor health in 1990, representing 13.6 percent of their total lifespan. By 2023, this figure had risen to 14.5 percent, or 10.7 years. "Mit zunehmender Lebenserwartung werden zunehmend viele Jahre bei schlechter Gesundheit verbracht," the research group noted in the study.

The disease gap is particularly pronounced in wealthy countries. In the United States, it stood at around 14 years in 2023, in Australia at 13.9 years, and in Canada at 13.7 years. For women worldwide, the gap averaged 12.1 years; for men, 9.3 years. In sub-Saharan Africa, the difference was significantly smaller, at around 9 years.

The Situation in Germany and Austria

These trends are also visible in Germany. According to the study, life expectancy in the country rose from 75.6 years (1990) to 80.9 years (2023). The disease gap widened from 10.1 to 11.9 years. Germany's Federal Statistical Office puts life expectancy at birth for 2023 at 79.1 years for men and 83.6 years for women.

Austria has followed a similar trajectory. According to Statistics Austria, life expectancy in the 2022–2024 period stood at 79.4 years for men and 84.1 years for women. The disease gap grew from 9.9 years (1990) to 11.9 years (2023), according to the study.

Study leader Murray is calling for a broader perspective on lifespan: "Fortschritte im gesunden Altern sollten nicht nur an der Lebensspanne gemessen werden, sondern an der Gesundheitsspanne," he was quoted as saying in a statement from his institute. The additional years spent in illness represent a growing burden on healthcare systems and on the quality of life of those affected.

What Does "Healthspan" Mean?

The study analyzes not only overall life expectancy but also the time spent in good health — that is, years without serious health limitations. The difference between the two figures, known as the disease gap, is a key measure of the analysis. It shows how much of the additional life time gained is actually spent in well-being.

The authors emphasize that the rising burden of disease primarily concerns chronic illnesses. As people age, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia become more common. These diseases are a major reason why additional years of life are not always spent in good health.

For health policy, the data point to several challenges. Prevention programs targeting lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and smoking could help extend healthy lifespan. The expansion of geriatric care and rehabilitation is also becoming increasingly important as more people reach advanced old age.

Challenges for Health Policy

The research team highlights that the differences between countries and regions are substantial. While wealthy states are confronted with a particularly large disease gap, poorer regions sometimes show smaller differences — though often alongside an overall lower life expectancy. The study thus points to global inequalities both in lifespan and in the quality of health in old age.

Murray and his team argue that future efforts should focus more strongly on healthspan rather than on lifespan alone. Only in this way, they contend, can real progress in healthy aging be measured. The study provides a comprehensive data foundation for this purpose.

The publication in the journal "The Lancet Public Health" (DOI: 10.1016/S2468-2667(26)00098-8) is based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. It is considered one of the most extensive analyses of the health of the world's population and is regularly consulted by researchers and policy makers.

Conclusion of the Researchers

Overall, the study illustrates a global trend: people are living longer, but a growing share of these additional years is shaped by illness and health limitations. The study thus provides an important foundation for discussions about the future of healthcare in an aging global society.