The African Exponent Kenya reports that the 2026 health ranking uses life expectancy at birth for 2024, the latest World Bank data sourced from United Nations projections, applying the same definition to every sovereign African state.

Tunisia leads the continent with a life expectancy of 76.7 years for newborns, a slight rise of 0.2 years from the previous year and the highest figure among sovereign African nations.

Algeria follows closely in second place with 76.5 years, also up 0.2 years, while Seychelles secures third at 76.3 years, marking a 0.9‑year gain—the second‑largest annual increase among the top ten.

The remaining positions are occupied by Cabo Verde (76.2 years), Morocco (75.5 years), Mauritius (73.8 years), Egypt (71.8 years), Libya (71.1 years), Sao Tomé and Principe (69.9 years) and Botswana (69.3 years).

North Africa contributes five of the ten spots—Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt and Libya—while four island states—Seychelles, Cabo Verde, Mauritius and Sao Tomé and Principe—punch above their demographic weight.

The average life expectancy of the top ten is 73.7 years, essentially matching the global average of 73.9 years, with the top three averaging 76.5 years and the remaining seven averaging 72.5 years.

The gap between the highest and lowest ranked countries is 7.4 years, a narrower spread than the overall disparity between Africa’s leaders and the rest of the continent, indicating a relatively tight cluster at the top.

Analysts note that the common denominator among the leaders is robust public health systems that provide free or heavily subsidised care, extensive primary‑care networks and sustained investment, rather than wealth alone.