Global life expectancy is back to pre-COVID numbers
Listen to the story (American accent)
People live longer now. They live about 20 years more than in 1950. 204 countries were studied. These places have fewer people dying now. But, more young people are dying in some places.
In 2023, women lived about 76 years. Men lived about 71 years. This is the same as before the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 caused many deaths in 2021. In 2023, it caused fewer deaths. Now, heart disease and stroke are the main reasons that people die.
Fewer people die from sicknesses like measles and diarrhea. Now, about 75% of sickness comes from things like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
We can stop half of all sickness. This is because we can change many things that make us sick. High blood pressure, smoking, and obesity are big problems.
More young people are dying in some places. In North America, more young adults die from drug problems or suicide. In Eastern Europe and Africa, they die more from sickness or accidents.
In rich places, people live 83 years. In parts of Africa, people live 62 years.
Vocabulary24 words
- Live
- To be alive; to not be dead; the opposite of “die”
- Study
- to learn more; to research; to check carefully
- Place
- A location or area; somewhere
- Fewer
- less; A smaller amount or number
- Die
- When someone or something stops living; to stop living
- Pandemic
- when a disease or sickness goes all over the country or world
- Cause
- make something (usually bad) happen; create
- Death
- when someone or something stops being alive; the end of a life
- Heart disease
- A group of problems that affect your heart; When your heart doesn't work as well as it should
- Stroke
- A serious illness that happens when blood cannot get to your brain;
- Main
- the most important or the biggest;
- Reason
- Why something happens; an explanation for something
- Sickness
- Being unhealthy or ill; a disease or illness
- Measles
- A sickness that gives you a fever, cough, and red spots on your skin;
- Diarrhea
- when you have to go to the bathroom a lot with loose poop; 💩
- Diabetes
- A health condition where your body has trouble controlling the amount of sugar in your blood
- Blood pressure
- how strongly your blood is pushing against the walls of your blood vessels
- Obesity
- a medical condition in which someone has too much body fat, which can lead to health problems; the state or condition of being very fat/overweight
- Adult
- Someone who is fully grown-up, not a child; a person older than 18
- Drug
- any natural or artificially made chemical that is used as a medicine; any natural or artificially made chemical that is taken for pleasure/fun, to improve performance or because a person feels like they need it; something people take to ‘feel good’; 💊
- Suicide
- the act of killing yourself intentionally;
- Accident
- something that happens unexpectedly or without warning, usually a bad thing; an event not intended by anyone; mishap
- Rich
- a person that has a lot of money; to have a lot of money
- Part
- a piece of something; a section of a whole thing; not the whole thing
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
People _____ longer now. They live about 20 years more _____ in 1950. 204 countries were studied. _____ places have fewer people dying now. But, _____ young people are dying in some places.
In _____, women live about 76 years. Men live about _____ years. This is the same as before the COVID-19 _____.
COVID-19 caused many deaths in _____. In 2023, it caused fewer deaths. Now, _____ disease and stroke are the main reasons that _____ die.
Fewer people die _____ sicknesses like measles and diarrhea. Now, about _____% of sickness comes from things like heart disease, _____, and diabetes.
We can stop half of all _____. This is because we can change many things _____ make us sick. High blood pressure, _____, and obesity are big problems.
More young people _____ dying in some places. In North America, more _____ adults die from drug problems or suicide. In Eastern _____ and Africa, they die more from sickness or _____.
In rich places, people live _____ years. In parts of Africa, people live _____ years.
Discussion questions
- People are living longer now. Do you think this is good for your country? Why or why not?
- More young people are dying in some places from drug problems and suicide. What do you think can help young people stay safe and healthy?
- The text says we can stop half of all sickness. What is one easy change you could make in your life to be more healthy?
- In rich countries, people live much longer than in poor countries. Do you think all countries should try to help each other with health problems?
- Heart disease and stroke are the main reasons people die. If you could tell people one thing to protect their heart, what would it be?
- The text talks about many health problems (like high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes). Which of these problems do you see most often where you live?
More Science stories
Next story · Easy
More new renewable energy created than new coal energy in 2025