The pandemic took four years off the world's life — we've nearly won them all back

Remember when every year felt shorter? The World Health Organization's new global health estimates say the world has clawed back nearly all the life expectancy the pandemic stole: 73.3 years in 2023, a whisker from the 73.4 of 2019, after sinking to 71.5 in 2021. COVID has fallen out of the top 10 causes of death for the first time — 900,000 deaths in 2023 against 9.4 million in 2021. Years lived in good health are catching up more slowly, so the next chapter is about living well, not just longer.