Life expectancy decreasing in Ghana: Dying young?
As development studies researchers, the disturbing issue, grounded as an empirical starting point for this article is about the decline in life expectancy rate in Ghana as compared to some countries.
We intend to map the life expectancy between Ghana and other countries based on 2023 and 2024 Global life expectancy rankings by two organisations: Worldometer (2023) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2024) reports and analyse them thematically.
Life Expectancy has been defined as the mean number of years of life that one has to live in a particular jurisdiction right from birth (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023).
Life expectancy at birth is one of the most frequently used health status indicators. Gains in life expectancy at birth can be attributed to several factors, including rising living standards, improved lifestyle, and better education, as well as greater access to quality health services. This indicator is measured in years for the total population and by gender.
Longevity has also been defined as the ability of a person to live a long life that is beyond the average age (De Benedictis & Franceschi, 2006) under some favorable conditions.
Notwithstanding, (Kaeberlein 2018) also highlights that one’s health span can be comparable to lifespan, as one can be ill but can live for many years.
In the case of Ghana, a recent statistical report released by the Births and Deaths Registry paints a gloomy picture as it revealed that 18,689 deaths, accounting for 36.7 per cent of registered deaths (50,992), were attributed to the top 11 causes of mortality in the country (Graphic, 2024) in 2022.
The report hereto further revealed that hypertension, claims the lives of 2,573 people.
What we found
We herein provide the following analysis:
According to Worldometer (2023), Algeria had the highest life expectancy in Africa with 77.34 years, followed by Tunisia with 76.94 years, then Cape Verde with a life expectancy of 76.93 years. Mauritius had a life expectancy of 75.59 years followed by Morocco with 75.2 years then Seychelles having a life expectancy of 75 years. Libya represented a life expectancy of 73.25 years followed by Egypt with a life expectancy of 70.81 years then Senegal with 69.31 years and finally Tanzania with 67.6 years life expectancy. According to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) 2024 report, Algeria had the highest life expectancy in Africa with 78 years, followed by Libya with 77.7 years, then Tunisia with a life expectancy of 77.3 years. Seychelles had a life expectancy of 76.6 years followed by Mauritius with 75.4 years then Egypt having a life expectancy of 75 years. Cape Verde represented a life expectancy of 74.3 years followed by Morocco with a life expectancy of 74.2 years then Malawi with 73 years and finally DR Congo with 72.9 years life expectancy. Cape Verde with 76.93 years ranked first West African country with the highest life expectancy according to Worldometer (2023). Senegal with 69.31 years ranked the second West African country with the highest life expectancy, followed by Ghana with 64.53 years, Gambia with 64.12 years, and finally Niger representing 62.93 years of life expectancy.
Authors Construct -The top five West African countries with the highest life expectancy according to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) 2024 report ranked Cape Verde as the highest with 74.3 years, followed by Togo with 72.1 years, Senegal with 70.6 years, then Ghana with 70.1 years and finally Gambia with 68.4 years.
Authors Construct-According to Worldometer (2023) report, Guinea had the lowest life expectancy in Africa with 59.55 years, followed by Namibia with 59.53 years, and then Eswatini with a life expectancy of 57.71 years. Somalia had a life expectancy of 57.35 years followed by South Sudan with 56.51 years then Central African Republic having a life expectancy of 55.48 years. Lesotho represented a life expectancy of 54.91 years followed by Nigeria with a life expectancy of 53.87 years then finally Chad represented 53.68 years with the least life expectancy. Authors Construct- The African country with the lowest life expectancy according to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) 2024 report ranked Sierra Leone as the lowest with 59.4 years, followed by Mozambique at 58.3 years, Somalia at 56.5 years, and finally the Central African Republic at 56.4 years representing the least life expectancy.
According to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) 2024 report, Monaco had the highest life expectancy in the world with 89.8 years, followed by Singapore with 86.7 years, then Macao with a life expectancy of 85.3 years. Japan had a life expectancy of 85.2 years followed by Canada with 84.2 years then San Marino having a life expectancy of 84.2 years. Hong Kong represented a life expectancy of 84 years followed by Iceland with a life expectancy of 84 years then Switzerland with 83.9 years and finally Andorra with 83.8 years life expectancy.
According to Worldometer (2023) report, Hong Kong had the highest life expectancy in the world with 85.83 years, followed by Macao with 85.51 years, then Japan with a life expectancy of 84.95 years. Switzerland had a life expectancy of 84.38 years followed by Singapore with 84.27 years then Italy having a life expectancy of 84.2 years. South Korea represented a life expectancy of 84.14 years followed by Spain with a life expectancy of 84.05 years then Malta with 83.85 years and finally Australia with 83.73 years life expectancy.
Our Commentary:
Worldometer Report(2023)
In 2023, according to the Worldometer, Hong Kong has the world’s highest life expectancy rate with 85. 83 years for both sexes. This was followed by Macao(85.51) years and Japan(84.95)years respectively. No African country falls in the world’s fifties (50th) ranking of life expectancy.
Algeria was ranked 69th with a life expectancy of 77.34(years) for box sexes. This was followed by Tunisia at the 73rd position with 76.94 years for both sexes.
The only West African country that performed better is Cape Verb at 74th Position with 76.93 years, followed by Senegal at 145th position with a life expectancy of 69. 31 years for both sexes. Ghana was ranked at 166th Position with a life expectancy of 64.53 years for both sexes.
The Gambia was ranked 169th with a life expectancy of 64.12 years for box sexes. The shocking thing was that Nigeria was ranked at 200th position with a life expectancy of 53.87 years for box sexes and Chad was the last at 201st with a life expectancy of 53.68 years for both sexes.
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) 2024 Report
The CIA revealed that Monaco was ranked the No.1 in the world with the highest life expectancy of 89.8 for both sexes. This was followed by Singapore with 86.7 years, Macao at No. 3 with 85.3 years for both sexes and Japan at No. 4 with 85. 2 years for both sexes.
In Africa, Algeria was ranked at No. 85 in the world with a life expectancy of 77.9 years, followed by Lybia at No. 87th with a life expectancy of 77. 7 years for both sexes. Togo was ranked at No. 165th position with a life expectancy of 72.1 years. Senegal was ranked at No. 172 with a life expectancy of 70.6 years.
Ghana was ranked at No. 180th with a life expectancy of 70.1 years for both sexes, the Gambia at No. 189th with a life expectancy of 68.4 years and finally, Nigeria was ranked at No. 216 with a life expectancy of 62.2 years.
Why do the Japanese have a higher Life Expectancy?
We explored this and found that many factors contribute to a country’s life expectancy rate including the quality and access to health care, employment, income, education, clean water, hygiene, nutrition, lifestyle, and crime rates. Among the G7 countries, Japan has the highest life expectancy at birth.
This is attributed to fewer deaths from ischemic heart disease and cancers, particularly breast and prostate cancer. This low mortality is mainly attributable to a low rate of obesity, low consumption of red meat, and high consumption of fish and plant foods such as soybeans and green tea. In Japan, the obesity rate is low (4.8% for men and 3.7% for women).
This was a different case in the early 1960s, Japanese life expectancy was the lowest of any G7 country, mainly due to high mortality from cerebrovascular disease and stomach cancer. The decrease in salt and salty food intake is partly responsible for the decrease in mortality from cerebrovascular disease and stomach cancer. The Japanese consumed an average of 14.5 g of salt/day in 1973 and probably more before that. They eat less salt these days (9.5 g/day in 2017), but it’s still too much.
Soy, Sugar and Green Tea
Frank et al.(2006) study found that consumption of isoflavones by Asians has been linked to a lower risk of breast and prostate cancer. This also proves that fermented foods such as (soy sauce, miso paste, nattō) or by coagulation of soy milk (tofu) are beneficial.
There is green tea in their diets with no added sugar. Prospective studies from Japan show that green tea consumption is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and cardiac death.
Recommendations and Conclusion
Ghana’s position was only cemented when we performed a West African regional analysis and was found in the top four (4) countries with the highest life expectancy. We were surprised to see Togo beating Ghana on the CIA report with global rank at No. 165th position with a life expectancy of 72.1 years as against Ghana’s position at No. 189th with a life expectancy of 68.4 years.
The government should take steps to provide a safe environment; access to transportation, and affordable healthcare in both private and public institutions. The government should also take steps to address the pollution in the country.
Government projects on tree planting should be encouraged to provide a greener environment. Public health interventions should be encouraged. Access to preventive medicine programmes should be implemented to help improve the life expectancy of the people of Ghana.
Ghanaians should be encouraged to drink more hibiscus sabdariffa tea(sobolo) as studies proved hibiscus to be superior to green tea in enhancing longevity(Carlsen et al. 2010).
Authors’ information
Prof. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu is a Professor of Naturopathy, currently in another MPhil/PhD program in Law & Development Studies at The Institute of Development and Technology Management (IDTM), Cape Coast. Whereas, Grace Ankoah Ankuah is an MPhil Development Student at the same institution. Email: professor40naturopathy@gmail.com Tel: 0541090045
BY PROF. RAPHAEL NYARKOTEY OBU & GRACE ANKOAH ANKUAH