Fact Check: "The average lifespan of a human is around 72 years globally."
What We Know
The claim that the average lifespan of a human is around 72 years globally is somewhat accurate but requires context. According to the World Health Organization, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, global life expectancy had increased significantly, reaching 73.1 years in 2019. However, the pandemic had a substantial impact on life expectancy, causing it to decline. By 2020, global life expectancy had dropped to approximately 72.5 years, and further decreased to about 71.4 years by 2021, reflecting a rollback to levels seen in 2012.
Data from Worldometer and Our World in Data also supports this trend, indicating that life expectancy has fluctuated around the 70-73 year mark in recent years. As of 2023, the global average life expectancy is reported to be approximately 73.4 years, according to the World Population Review.
Analysis
The claim that the average lifespan is "around 72 years" is Partially True. While the figure aligns closely with historical data and recent estimates, it does not fully account for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused significant declines in life expectancy. The WHO's data indicates that the global average life expectancy was 73.1 years in 2019 but fell to 71.4 years by 2021 due to the pandemic's effects (source-1).
Moreover, the variation in life expectancy across different regions and countries is substantial. For instance, as of 2023, life expectancy varies from a low of 57.7 years in Western Africa to a high of 82.7 years in Western Europe (source-5). This disparity highlights that while the global average may hover around 72-73 years, individual experiences can vary greatly based on geographic and socio-economic factors.
The sources used for this analysis are credible, including international health organizations and demographic research platforms. The WHO is a leading authority on global health statistics, while Worldometer and Our World in Data provide comprehensive demographic data. However, it is important to note that some sources may present projections or estimates that can vary slightly based on the methodologies used.
Conclusion
The claim that "the average lifespan of a human is around 72 years globally" is Partially True. While it reflects a reasonable approximation of global life expectancy figures, it fails to account for the significant declines caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the considerable regional variations in life expectancy. Thus, while the average may be close to 72 years, the context and fluctuations in data must be acknowledged.
