Top 10 healthiest countries in Africa in 2026

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Read History Go to My Account Log Out Enhanced by Google BD Weekender Top 10 healthiest countries in Africa in 2026 Tunisia ranks as Africa’s healthiest country in 2026, with a life expectancy of 76.7 years, ahead of Algeria and Seychelles,

Listen to this article Share Tunisia ranks as Africa’s healthiest country in 2026, with a life expectancy of 76.7 years, ahead of Algeria and Seychelles, according to figures from the World Bank and United Nations for 2024.

The ranking places five North African countries and four island nations among the continent’s top 10. It also highlights differences in life expectancy across Africa and the role of healthcare access, disease prevention and public health investment in improving population health.

Algeria follows Tunisia with a life expectancy of 76.5 years, while Seychelles takes third place at 76.3 years. The difference between the three countries is just 0.4 years.

Cabo Verde ranks fourth with 76.2 years, followed by Morocco at 75.5 years. Mauritius occupies sixth place at 73.8 years, while Egypt ranks seventh at 71.8 years.

Libya, Sao Tome and Principe, and Botswana complete the list with life expectancies of 71.1, 69.9 and 69.3 years, respectively.

The average life expectancy among the 10 countries is 73.7 years, close to the global average of 73.9 years.

The figures reflect the relationship between access to healthcare and life expectancy. Countries that provide public healthcare, invest in primary care and maintain vaccination programmes have recorded gains in population health.

Here are the 10 healthiest countries in Africa in 2026, based on life expectancy at birth.

Tunisia ranks first among African countries, with a life expectancy of 76.7 years. The figure represents an increase of 0.2 years from 2023 and places the country 0.2 years ahead of Algeria.

Since independence, Tunisia has maintained a public healthcare system that provides free or subsidised services through government facilities. The country has also recorded low child mortality rates and maintained vaccination programmes to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Its healthcare system, alongside access to medical services and dietary practices, has contributed to improvements in life expectancy.

Tunisia’s position at the top of the ranking reflects decades of investment in public health and the provision of healthcare services.

Algeria ranks second with a life expectancy of 76.5 years, an increase of 0.2 years from 2023.

The government provides free healthcare to citizens through public facilities and has invested in hospitals, clinics and other medical services across the country.

Despite its large geographical area, Algeria has expanded access to healthcare to serve communities in different regions. Its life expectancy is only 0.2 years below Tunisia’s, placing it among the countries with the highest figures on the continent.

However, the country faces an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. Managing these diseases remains important to sustaining improvements in life expectancy.

Seychelles ranks third, with a life expectancy of 76.3 years. Its figure increased by 0.9 years from 2023, representing one of the largest gains among the 10 countries.

The island nation provides free public healthcare to its citizens. Its population size also makes it easier to organise healthcare delivery and extend primary medical services to communities.

Seychelles has recorded progress in education, literacy and governance, alongside its health performance. These areas contribute to the country’s development and influence access to healthcare and other public services.

With a life expectancy of 76.3 years, Seychelles is the third African country where people can expect to live the longest.

Cabo Verde occupies fourth place with a life expectancy of 76.2 years, an increase of 0.2 years from 2023.

The Atlantic island nation has invested in primary healthcare through health centres across its inhabited islands. This arrangement allows residents to access medical services without travelling long distances for routine consultations.

Its healthcare delivery system has supported improvements in disease prevention and access to treatment.

Cabo Verde is also the highest-ranked West African country on the list. Its position places it just 0.1 years behind Seychelles and ahead of several countries with larger populations and economies.

Morocco ranks fifth with a life expectancy of 75.5 years, recording an increase of 0.2 years from 2023.

The country has been expanding health insurance coverage as part of efforts to improve access to medical services. The programme targets workers, self-employed people and other sections of the population who previously had limited insurance coverage.

The expansion is part of Morocco’s wider healthcare reforms, which seek to extend medical protection to more citizens.

Its position also makes it the third North African country in the top five, following Tunisia and Algeria.

Mauritius takes sixth place with a life expectancy of 73.8 years, representing an increase of 0.4 years from 2023.

The island country provides free public healthcare and has maintained investments in medical services, education and social development.

Its healthcare system allows citizens to access government-funded medical services, while its public health programmes support disease prevention and treatment.

Mauritius also performs well in other development indicators, including education and governance. Its life expectancy figure, however, is 1.7 years below Morocco’s, which occupies fifth place.

Egypt ranks seventh with a life expectancy of 71.8 years, an increase of 0.2 years from 2023.

The country is implementing a universal health insurance system in phases across its governorates. The programme is intended to expand access to healthcare and replace the existing arrangement of multiple insurance schemes.

With a population exceeding 100 million, Egypt faces the challenge of providing medical services to a large number of people across urban and rural communities.

Its seventh-place position makes it the most populous country among the 10 nations on the list.

The expansion of health insurance is expected to play a role in improving access to treatment and supporting the country’s public health objectives.

Libya occupies eighth place with a life expectancy of 71.1 years. Its figure increased by 1.8 years from 2023, the largest reported rise among the countries in the ranking.

However, the country’s health statistics require some caution because data collection has been affected by years of conflict and disruptions to public institutions.

Before 2011, Libya had developed a healthcare system that supported access to medical services and contributed to its health indicators.

The conflict has since affected hospitals, medical infrastructure and the delivery of healthcare across the country.

Rebuilding healthcare facilities and restoring access to medical services remain important challenges as Libya works to improve public health.

Sao Tome and Principe ranks ninth with a life expectancy of 69.9 years, an increase of 0.2 years from 2023.

The Central African island nation has made progress in controlling malaria, a disease that previously contributed to deaths across the country.

Government-led interventions, including the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor spraying programmes, have supported efforts to reduce malaria transmission.

Its position makes it the only Central African country in the top 10 and the fourth island nation to feature in the ranking.

With a life expectancy of 69.9 years, Sao Tome and Principe is 0.6 years ahead of Botswana, which occupies the final position.

Botswana completes the ranking with a life expectancy of 69.3 years, an increase of 0.1 years from 2023.

The country’s health record has been influenced by its response to HIV/AIDS, which contributed to a fall in life expectancy during the early 2000s.

However, the introduction and expansion of HIV treatment programmes have helped improve survival rates. The government provides free antiretroviral treatment to citizens, supporting access to care for people living with the virus.

Botswana’s position reflects the progress made through public health interventions and access to treatment.

Although it ranks tenth, its experience demonstrates how sustained investment in disease prevention and treatment can help countries recover from public health challenges.

Chisom Michael is a data analyst (audience engagement) and writer at BusinessDay, with diverse experience in the media industry. He holds a BSc in Industrial Physics from Imo State University and an MEng in Computer Science and Technology from Liaoning Univerisity of Technology China. He specialises in listicle writing, profiles and leveraging his skills in audience engagement analysis and data-driven insights to create compelling content that resonates with readers.