Data for 1959
Life Expectancy at Birth, 1959
Figures for 1959, as UN DESA Population Division published them · stored as published, never rewritten
Life Expectancy at Birth, 1959 covers 222 countries. Norway is highest, at 73.5503; South Sudan is lowest, at 27.8315. The middle country reads 56.0645. Against 1958, 222 values changed (199 up, 23 down), the same countries are covered.
Life Expectancy at Birth · Data for 1959
HighestNorway
73.5503LowestSouth Sudan
27.8315Shaded by value in five groups of equal size, darkest at the better end.
01Position · derived
The table
Every country and every column of Life Expectancy at Birth, 1959, as published. UN DESA Population Division ranks nobody on this measure; the position is derived here by ordering the published values. “=” marks a shared position.
Showing 25 of 222 countries · select a heading to sort
| derived | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NORNorthern Europe | 73.5503 |
| 2 | SWENorthern Europe | 73.3708 |
| 3 | NLDWestern Europe | 73.1863 |
| 4 | SMRSouthern Europe | 73.0158 |
| 5 | ISLNorthern Europe | 72.6240 |
| 6 | DNKNorthern Europe | 72.2253 |
| 7 | ANDSouthern Europe | 71.6151 |
| 8 | CHEWestern Europe | 71.4531 |
| 9 | MCOWestern Europe | 71.3547 |
| 10 | FRONorthern Europe | 71.2998 |
| 11 | GBRNorthern Europe | 70.8276 |
| 12 | NZLAustralia and New Zealand | 70.7740 |
| 13 | CANNorthern America | 70.6124 |
| 14 | LIEWestern Europe | 70.6007 |
| 15 | AUSAustralia and New Zealand | 70.4450 |
| 16 | BELWestern Europe | 70.3138 |
| 17 | FRAWestern Europe | 70.1683 |
| 18 | GIBSouthern Europe | 70.1092 |
| 19 | USANorthern America | 69.9044 |
| 20 | CZEEastern Europe | 69.8941 |
| 21 | GRCSouthern Europe | 69.5782 |
| 22 | LVANorthern Europe | 69.5231 |
| 23 | IRLNorthern Europe | 69.4236 |
| 24 | LTUNorthern Europe | 69.4040 |
| 25 | DEUWestern Europe | 69.3345 |
| 26 | ITASouthern Europe | 69.3067 |
| 27 | VATSouthern Europe | 69.2409 |
| 28 | SVKEastern Europe | 69.0091 |
| 29 | ISRWestern Asia | 68.9186 |
| 30 | FINNorthern Europe | 68.7949 |
| 31 | UKREastern Europe | 68.6922 |
| 32 | ESPSouthern Europe | 68.6908 |
| 33 | ESTNorthern Europe | 68.6733 |
| 34 | AUTWestern Europe | 68.3921 |
| 35 | MLTSouthern Europe | 68.3727 |
| 36 | LUXWestern Europe | 68.3726 |
| 37 | SVNSouthern Europe | 68.1529 |
| 38 | PRICaribbean | 68.0662 |
| 39 | BLREastern Europe | 67.9870 |
| 40 | URYSouth America | 67.5297 |
| 41 | JPNEastern Asia | 67.4564 |
| 42 | RUSEastern Europe | 67.3829 |
| 43 | MAFCaribbean | 67.3677 |
| 44 | HUNEastern Europe | 67.3261 |
| 45 | BGREastern Europe | 66.6294 |
| 46 | POLEastern Europe | 66.4130 |
| 47 | SXMCaribbean | 66.0483 |
| 48 | BMUNorthern America | 65.6920 |
| 49 | HRVSouthern Europe | 65.5485 |
| 50 | HKGEastern Asia | 65.3924 |
| 51 | SRBSouthern Europe | 65.2380 |
| 52 | CUWCaribbean | 65.0801 |
| 53 | ROUEastern Europe | 64.9299 |
| 54 | SGPSouth-eastern Asia | 64.7941 |
| 55 | IMNNorthern Europe | 64.7459 |
| 56 | MNESouthern Europe | 64.7149 |
| 57 | ASMPolynesia | 64.3203 |
| 58 | ARGSouth America | 64.0997 |
| 59 | MACEastern Asia | 63.6831 |
| 60 | ABWCaribbean | 63.6106 |
| 61 | LBNWestern Asia | 63.5767 |
| 62 | BRBCaribbean | 63.3071 |
| 63 | JAMCaribbean | 63.2483 |
| 64 | PRTSouthern Europe | 62.9171 |
| 65 | CRICentral America | 62.9054 |
| 66 | CUBCaribbean | 62.8294 |
| 67 | GUMMicronesia | 62.5664 |
| 68 | GRDCaribbean | 62.4154 |
| 69 | CYPWestern Asia | 62.3103 |
| 70 | VGBCaribbean | 62.1708 |
| 71 | ATGCaribbean | 62.1290 |
| 72 | BHSCaribbean | 62.0846 |
| 73 | TTOCaribbean | 61.8923 |
| 74 | VIRCaribbean | 61.8101 |
| 75 | TWNEastern Asia | 61.6084 |
| 76 | MNPMicronesia | 61.0456 |
| 77 | GEOWestern Asia | 60.9936 |
| 78 | SYCEastern Africa | 60.4222 |
| 79 | LKASouthern Asia | 59.9707 |
| 80 | PRYSouth America | 59.8800 |
| 81 | AIACaribbean | 59.8471 |
| 82 | PANCentral America | 59.5674 |
| 83 | MKDSouthern Europe | 59.5416 |
| 84 | DMACaribbean | 59.1203 |
| 85 | MDAEastern Europe | 59.0163 |
| 86 | PYFPolynesia | 58.9668 |
| 87 | NIUPolynesia | 58.8385 |
| 88 | PHLSouth-eastern Asia | 58.7451 |
| 89 | ARMWestern Asia | 58.6909 |
| 90 | CYMCaribbean | 58.2380 |
| 91 | FJIMelanesia | 58.1586 |
| 92 | BRNSouth-eastern Asia | 58.0201 |
| 93 | KWTWestern Asia | 57.8925 |
| 94 | NRUMicronesia | 57.8718 |
| 95 | VCTCaribbean | 57.7700 |
| 96 | TONPolynesia | 57.7655 |
| 97 | KAZCentral Asia | 57.7240 |
| 98 | VENSouth America | 57.6846 |
| 99 | BIHSouthern Europe | 57.6050 |
| 100 | MSRCaribbean | 57.5862 |
| 101 | MUSEastern Africa | 57.4036 |
| 102 | VNMSouth-eastern Asia | 57.3978 |
| 103 | LCACaribbean | 57.3223 |
| 104 | GRLNorthern America | 57.2494 |
| 105 | QATWestern Asia | 57.0474 |
| 106 | GUYSouth America | 57.0058 |
| 107 | CHLSouth America | 56.6425 |
| 108 | BLZCentral America | 56.5842 |
| 109 | KNACaribbean | 56.5548 |
| 110 | MYSSouth-eastern Asia | 56.3127 |
| 111 | UZBCentral Asia | 56.1924 |
| 112 | SURSouth America | 55.9366 |
| 113 | COLSouth America | 55.8631 |
| 114 | TCACaribbean | 55.5607 |
| 115 | PRKEastern Asia | 55.1720 |
| 116 | ALBSouthern Europe | 55.1300 |
| 117 | KGZCentral Asia | 54.7751 |
| 118 | PLWMicronesia | 54.5931 |
| 119 | WSMPolynesia | 54.5678 |
| 120 | MHLMicronesia | 53.9700 |
| 121 | FSMMicronesia | 53.5748 |
| 122 | ZWEEastern Africa | 53.0220 |
| 123 | KOREastern Asia | 52.9353 |
| 124 | ECUSouth America | 52.7360 |
| 125 | BRASouth America | 52.7043 |
| 126 | MEXCentral America | 52.6611 |
| 127 | TJKCentral Asia | 52.1696 |
| 128 | ZAFSouthern Africa | 51.8817 |
| 129 | TKMCentral Asia | 51.7680 |
| 130 | SYRWestern Asia | 51.7243 |
| 131 | JORWestern Asia | 51.6118 |
| 132 | NCLMelanesia | 51.5849 |
| 133 | COKPolynesia | 51.3464 |
| 134 | DOMCaribbean | 50.9525 |
| 135 | BWASouthern Africa | 50.6686 |
| 136 | ZMBEastern Africa | 50.2917 |
| 137 | AZEWestern Asia | 50.2585 |
| 138 | TURWestern Asia | 50.1372 |
| 139 | THASouth-eastern Asia | 50.1261 |
| 140 | PERSouth America | 50.0435 |
| 141 | LSOSouthern Africa | 49.9217 |
| 142 | IRQWestern Asia | 49.7195 |
| 143 | AREWestern Asia | 49.7012 |
| 144 | VUTMelanesia | 49.2921 |
| 145 | SDNNorthern Africa | 49.1928 |
| 146 | BHRWestern Asia | 48.9511 |
| 147 | PSEWestern Asia | 48.8127 |
| 148 | CPVWestern Africa | 48.1539 |
| 149 | XKXSouthern Europe | 48.1127 |
| 150 | SLVCentral America | 47.9708 |
| 151 | NAMSouthern Africa | 47.7912 |
| 152 | KENEastern Africa | 47.5190 |
| 153 | KIRMicronesia | 47.5039 |
| 154 | TUVPolynesia | 47.4968 |
| 155 | SLBMelanesia | 47.0250 |
| 156 | COGMiddle Africa | 46.7845 |
| 157 | GHAWestern Africa | 46.7095 |
| 158 | RWAEastern Africa | 46.5459 |
| 159 | HNDCentral America | 46.3792 |
| 160 | IDNSouth-eastern Asia | 46.1998 |
| 161 | SWZSouthern Africa | 46.0904 |
| 162 | NICCentral America | 46.0588 |
| 163 | GABMiddle Africa | 45.7560 |
| 164 | INDSouthern Asia | 45.2602 |
| 165 | PNGMelanesia | 45.1398 |
| 166 | UGAEastern Africa | 44.9531 |
| 167 | SAUWestern Asia | 44.7511 |
| 168 | GTMCentral America | 44.3313 |
| 169 | BGDSouthern Asia | 43.7158 |
| 170 | MNGEastern Asia | 43.6840 |
| 171 | EGYNorthern Africa | 43.6820 |
| 172 | MMRSouth-eastern Asia | 43.4139 |
| 173 | TUNNorthern Africa | 43.3563 |
| 174 | SOMEastern Africa | 43.3355 |
| 175 | PAKSouthern Asia | 43.3254 |
| 176 | TGOWestern Africa | 43.3230 |
| 177 | DJIEastern Africa | 43.0788 |
| 178 | BDIEastern Africa | 43.0676 |
| 179 | HTICaribbean | 43.0225 |
| 180 | BOLSouth America | 43.0097 |
| 181 | MDGEastern Africa | 42.9518 |
| 182 | MRTWestern Africa | 42.8935 |
| 183 | IRNSouthern Asia | 42.7614 |
| 184 | MARNorthern Africa | 42.6783 |
| 185 | GNQMiddle Africa | 42.4747 |
| 186 | TZAEastern Africa | 42.4524 |
| 187 | STPMiddle Africa | 42.1135 |
| 188 | KHMSouth-eastern Asia | 41.6521 |
| 189 | DZANorthern Africa | 40.8828 |
| 190 | MOZEastern Africa | 40.8746 |
| 191 | LAOSouth-eastern Asia | 40.7462 |
| 192 | CODMiddle Africa | 40.6155 |
| 193 | COMEastern Africa | 40.4717 |
| 194 | CHNEastern Asia | 40.1699 |
| 195 | CMRMiddle Africa | 39.8041 |
| 196 | SENWestern Africa | 39.5321 |
| 197 | LBYNorthern Africa | 39.2657 |
| 198 | ETHEastern Africa | 39.1684 |
| 199 | CAFMiddle Africa | 39.1020 |
| 200 | TCDMiddle Africa | 38.9612 |
| 201 | NPLSouthern Asia | 38.4130 |
| 202 | BENWestern Africa | 38.3887 |
| 203 | LBRWestern Africa | 38.0562 |
| 204 | MDVSouthern Asia | 37.8863 |
| 205 | AGOMiddle Africa | 37.6939 |
| 206 | GNBWestern Africa | 37.3443 |
| 207 | NGAWestern Africa | 37.0278 |
| 208 | ERIEastern Africa | 36.9691 |
| 209 | CIVWestern Africa | 36.5469 |
| 210 | GINWestern Africa | 36.4682 |
| 211 | NERWestern Africa | 36.1369 |
| 212 | BTNSouthern Asia | 36.1217 |
| 213 | BFAWestern Africa | 35.7159 |
| 214 | MWIEastern Africa | 34.7611 |
| 215 | OMNWestern Asia | 34.5507 |
| 216 | GMBWestern Africa | 34.0854 |
| 217 | YEMWestern Asia | 32.8623 |
| 218 | SLEWestern Africa | 32.5565 |
| 219 | AFGSouthern Asia | 32.3365 |
| 220 | TLSSouth-eastern Asia | 32.0212 |
| 221 | MLIWestern Africa | 30.3357 |
| 222 | SSDEastern Africa | 27.8315 |
02In 1959
At either end
The 5 countries at each end of the headline.
Highest
- 1
Norway73.5503
- 2
Sweden73.3708
- 3
Netherlands73.1863
- 4
San Marino73.0158
- 5
Iceland72.6240
Lowest
- 222
South Sudan27.8315
- 221
Mali30.3357
- 220
Timor-Leste32.0212
- 219
Afghanistan32.3365
- 218
Sierra Leone32.5565
A higher value is the better result. The middle country reads 56.0645. “Shared” marks a value another country also holds.
031958 → 1959
Since 1958
What changed between 1958 and this one: who joined or left, and how far the headline moved.
- +0 / −0countries joined / left
- 222values changed, of 222 in both
- 199 · 23rose · fell
- 0unchanged
Rose most
Fell most
China48.8336 → 40.1699−8.6637
United States Virgin Islands64.5667 → 61.8101−2.7566
Bulgaria68.7143 → 66.6294−2.0849
Portugal63.7239 → 62.9171−0.8068
North Macedonia60.3090 → 59.5416−0.7674
Changes in value, not in places: a country’s place also moves when others do. Every country’s full history is charted on the statistic page.
04Caveats
Read before you use
What this edition’s numbers are and are not, worked out from the file itself.
The position is ours
UN DESA Population Division publishes values only; the order is this site’s.
Nothing missing
Every one of the 222 countries has every column.
05The files
Download and cite
The table as a file, digit for digit, what this site changed, and a citation for this edition.
- .csv
For a spreadsheet or code
222 rows · 6.5 KB · UTF-8, opens in Excel
Opens with 11 lines of source notes; the table starts on row 13.
Download life-expectancy-1959-nations-inquiry.csv - ↗
The publisher’s original
UN DESA Population Division’s own file, on its own site.
WPP2024_Demographic_Indicators_Medium.csv.gz
What this site changed: Reshaped into one row per country: regional and income-group totals are left out, only the columns listed are kept, each row gets its ISO 3166 code, and some country names are brought to one spelling. No value is recalculated, rescaled or rounded.
Licence: CC BY 3.0 IGO · what it allows, in plain words
Cite this edition
UN DESA Population Division (1959). Life Expectancy at Birth, 1959 [data set], describing 1959. As held by Nations Inquiry, https://nationsinquiry.com/datasets/life-expectancy/1959
0674 held
Other years
‹ The year before
Life Expectancy at Birth, 1958222 countries
The year after ›
Life Expectancy at Birth, 1960222 countries
All of them
Life Expectancy at Birth: every year74 held, with the data dictionary, coverage and licence.
How it has moved, charted by country
07Questions
Life Expectancy at Birth, 1959: questions and answers
Which country has the highest life expectancy in Life Expectancy at Birth, 1959?
Norway, at 73.5503, of the 222 countries in the file.
What year does Life Expectancy at Birth, 1959 describe?
1959.
How many countries does Life Expectancy at Birth, 1959 cover?
222.
Where can I download Life Expectancy at Birth, 1959?
On this page, as a CSV file holding every value exactly as published, or from the publisher’s own site, linked below.
Is Life Expectancy at Birth, 1959 the newest?
No. The newest held here is Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023.