Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Life Expectancy

A Global Perspective Across Income Levels

Bibliographic Data

ID12307017
AuthorsSandunima Kaluarachchi (0009-0008-4673-4591, SLIIT Business School Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology Malabe Sri Lanka, corresponding author), Ruwan Jayathilaka (0000-0002-7679-4164, Department of Information Management, SLIIT Business School Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology Malabe Sri Lanka)
Year2026
Publication date2026-01-26
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSustainable Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0968-0802 • E-ISSN: 1099-1719
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/sd.70702
OpenAlexW7125799284
LanguageEN
References cited113

Socioeconomic factors influencing life expectancy are still underexplored across different income groups in global research. This study investigates the socioeconomic determinants of longevity across global income levels, drawing on World Bank data to analyze how various economic and social factors influence lifespan worldwide. A stepwise panel data regression analysis was conducted to examine the determinants. The findings indicate that increase per capita gross domestic product and health expenditure substantially enhance lifespan, whereas increase population size, death rate, and infant mortality rate adversely impact life expectancy globally. In low‐income countries, increase per capita gross domestic product, population size, and death rate significantly shorten life expectancy. In lower‐middle‐income countries, growing population size and death rate progressively lower life expectancy. In upper‐middle‐income countries, higher per capita gross domestic product significantly boosts longevity, while increase carbon dioxide emissions, population size, death rate, and infant mortality rate substantially reduce life expectancy. In high‐income countries, increase male education significantly raises lifespan, while increase population size and death rate reduce life expectancy. These findings can help policymakers, governments, the World Health Organisation, the United Nations, and the World Bank address key issues affecting life expectancy, promoting global health and sustainable economic growth

Gross domestic product · Gross national income · Infant mortality · Life expectancy · Mortality rate · Per capita · Per capita income · Population · Socioeconomic status · Economic Growth and Productivity · Global Health Care Issues · Insurance, Mortality, Demography, Risk Management

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Open DOIOpen Access