Kenyans' life expectancy at birth (or how long, on average, a newborn can expect to live, if current death rates do not change unexpectedly), has increased from 50 years for men and 49 years for women to 64.4 years and 68.9 years respectively.

WHO's statistics showed that life expectancy has risen by 21 per cent or 11 years since 2000 in low income countries.

Comparatively, growth in life expectancy seems to have stagnated in higher income countries with an increase of four per cent or three years only.

The recent life expectancy gains in low-income countries are largely due to major reductions in mortality in children under five years in low-income countries, a reduction of 53 per cent from 143 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 68 in 2018.

Globally, significant progress towards several health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is credited for increased average life expectancy at birth by 5.5 years globally between 2000 and 2016 from 66.5 to 72 years.