India’s Life Expectancy in 2025: Key Insights and Trends

India’s life expectancy in 2025 is projected to be 72.48 years, a significant increase from the life expectancy in 1947 (32 years) and in 1900 (just 24 years).

This improvement reflects advancements in healthcare, food availability, and living standards throughout the nation. However, not all states and union territories experience the same longevity.

The table I compiled outlines life expectancy across all 28 states and 8 union territories, highlighting notable disparities.

This article explores the data, clarifies why certain regions excel while others fall behind, and relates it to life expectancy for males and females in India.

State-wise Life expectancy in India

Rank	State/Union Territory	Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)
1	Kerala	78.26
2	Chandigarh	76.50*
3	Delhi	76.50*
4	Tamil Nadu	74.80
5	Himachal Pradesh	74.50*
6	Jammu and Kashmir	74.50*
7	Punjab	74.50*
8	Tripura	74.20
9	West Bengal	74.00
10	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	73.50*
11	Goa	73.50*
12	Puducherry	73.50*
13	Karnataka	73.20*
14	Maharashtra	73.20*
15	Telangana	73.20*
16	Andhra Pradesh	72.80*
17	Gujarat	72.80*
18	Haryana	72.80*
19	India (National Average)	72.48
20	Arunachal Pradesh	72.00*
21	DNHDD (Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu)	72.00*
22	Lakshadweep	72.00*
23	Manipur	72.00*
24	Meghalaya	72.00*
25	Mizoram	72.00*
26	Nagaland	72.00*
27	Sikkim	72.00*
28	Uttarakhand	72.00*
29	Rajasthan	71.50*
30	Jharkhand	71.00*
31	Odisha	70.50*
32	Assam	70.00
33	Bihar	70.00
34	Madhya Pradesh	69.80
35	Uttar Pradesh	69.77
36	Chhattisgarh	69.50

In 2025, India’s average life expectancy is 72.48 years, with females living an average of 74.13 years and males 70.95 years.

The table categorizes states and union territories based on life expectancy, with Kerala leading at 78.26 years, followed by Chandigarh and Delhi (both at 76.50 years).

Tamil Nadu (74.80 years) and Himachal Pradesh (74.50 years) also rank favorably. Conversely, Chhattisgarh (69.50 years), Uttar Pradesh (69.77 years), and Madhya Pradesh (69.80 years) fall short of the national average.

Kerala boasts the highest life expectancy in India due to its substantial investments in healthcare and education.

The state’s hospitals, particularly those in Thiruvananthapuram, provide excellent medical care, and high literacy rates empower residents to make healthier choices.

Chandigarh and Delhi benefit from urban affluence and access to state-of-the-art medical facilities, such as AIIMS Delhi.

Tamil Nadu’s robust healthcare system, characterized by numerous clinics, enhances its life expectancy figures.

What causes some states to lag behind? Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh grapple with issues like poverty, insufficient hospitals, and rural populations that are far removed from healthcare services.

These states have significant tribal or low-income demographics, which often suffer from inadequate nutrition and sanitation, negatively impacting their life expectancies.

Exploring the Reasons Behind the Disparities in Life Expectancy

Various elements contribute to the differences in life expectancy between males and females in India across different regions:

Access to Healthcare: Kerala boasts a life expectancy of 78.26 years, attributed to its extensive network of hospitals and clinics, even in rural locales.

Every village is equipped with health centers, and initiatives like Ayushman Bharat help cover medical expenses.

Conversely, Chhattisgarh’s life expectancy of 69.50 years is a result of fewer hospitals in tribal areas, which complicates timely access to healthcare for residents.

Economic Status: Affluent regions such as Delhi and Chandigarh, with a life expectancy of 76.50 years, benefit from better nutrition, clean drinking water, and private healthcare facilities.

In contrast, poorer states like Bihar, with a life expectancy of 70.00 years, face challenges like malnutrition and inadequate healthcare funding, disproportionately affecting men due to occupational hazards.

This explains the lower life expectancy for males in India (70.95 years) compared to females (74.13 years).

Education and Health Awareness: Tamil Nadu’s impressive literacy rate of over 80% equips its population with knowledge about hygiene and disease prevention, contributing to a life expectancy of 74.80 years.

In contrast, Uttar Pradesh, with a literacy rate of 67%, experiences lower health awareness, resulting in a reduced life expectancy of 69.77 years.

Urban-Rural Disparities: Urban areas like Puducherry, with a life expectancy of 73.50 years, have access to hospitals and specialists, while rural regions such as Odisha, with a life expectancy of 70.50 years, depend on clinics that are often understaffed.

This disparity impacts both genders, but women in rural areas frequently face greater challenges due to limited maternal healthcare services.

Cultural and Lifestyle Factors: Tripura’s life expectancy of 74.20 years is supported by healthier dietary habits and lower levels of industrial pollution.

In contrast, Assam, with a life expectancy of 70.00 years, suffers from the adverse effects of pesticide exposure faced by tea garden workers and substandard living conditions.

Life Expectancy: Male vs. Female

In India, the life expectancy for females is higher (74.13 years) compared to males (70.95 years).

What accounts for this difference? Women typically encounter fewer risks in the workplace, such as those found in construction or mining, which are prevalent in regions like Jharkhand (71.00 years).

Additionally, women are more likely to utilize healthcare services, aided by initiatives focused on maternal health.

Conversely, men in rural areas like Madhya Pradesh experience stress from demanding jobs, which can shorten their lifespan.

Nevertheless, in states such as Kerala, men enjoy improved healthcare access, which helps to reduce the disparity.

Life Expectancy: From 1900 to 2025

The increase in life expectancy in India from 1900 (24 years) to 1947 (32 years) and reaching 72.48 years in 2025 illustrates significant advancement.

In 1900, widespread diseases like smallpox and inadequate sanitation led to high mortality rates among the youth.

By 1947, the advent of independence initiated fundamental health reforms, yet famines and poverty continued to hinder longevity.

Today, the availability of vaccines, clean drinking water, and healthcare facilities has elevated the national average.

Kerala’s life expectancy of 78.26 years is comparable to that of some developed countries, highlighting the potential for improvement through dedicated efforts.

Source

• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. (2021). National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21: India report. International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
• Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Government of India. (2020). SRS life tables 2018-20.