How life expectancy at birth changed in five West African countries
Life expectancy at birth rose in all five countries from 1990 to 2024. Senegal’s estimate increased from 56.7 to 68.9 years and Nigeria’s from 45.7 to 54.6 years.
Senegal recorded the largest increase in the group
The estimate rose by about 12.3 years from 1990 to 2024. Ghana gained about 10.3 years, while the rise in Côte d’Ivoire was about 9.3 years. Those differences use the unrounded values. Source 1
The annual path includes setbacks
Senegal’s estimate fell from 67.7 years in 2019 to 66.9 in 2021 before reaching 68.9 in 2024. Benin declined from 60.2 in 2020 to 59.6 in 2021, then reached 61.0 in 2024. The series shows changes in mortality without identifying their causes. Source 1
A newborn’s lifetime is not observed here
A life table uses the year’s mortality rates at different ages to estimate lifespan under those conditions. Actual cohorts can experience different mortality rates as they grow older, so this figure describes a period’s mortality conditions. Source 2
Survival improvements can begin at different ages
Lower infant mortality can raise life expectancy at birth by reducing deaths near the start of life. Mortality changes in adulthood can also lift the estimate. Age-specific rates are needed to identify where the differences arose. Source 2