Don’t expect human life expectancy to grow much more, researcher says

A new study suggests humanity is approaching the upper limits of life expectancy, with lifespan improvements slowing in the world's longest-living countries like Japan and Switzerland. Researchers tracked data from 1990 to 2019, finding that while life expectancy gains averaged 2.5 years per decade in the 1990s, the increase dropped to just 1.5 years in the 2010s, and almost zero in the U.S.

The U.S. faces distinct issues impacting life expectancy, such as higher rates of drug overdoses, gun violence, and healthcare disparities. Even eliminating deaths before age 50 would result in only modest gains, indicating biological limits to longevity. Women generally outlive men, but the life expectancy gap is shrinking.

Experts agree the number of centenarians will likely grow due to population increases, though the percentage reaching 100 will stay small. In 2019, about 2% of Americans made it to 100, compared to 9% in Hong Kong. The study suggests reevaluating retirement expectations, as aging remains a significant barrier to extending life further.