What era had the lowest life expectancy?

The Darkest Eras for Human Longevity

For the vast majority of human existence, life was remarkably brief and precarious. Looking back at historical trends, the eras prior to and including the 19th century saw the lowest global life expectancies on record, with the average person expected to live just 28 to 32 years at birth.

Contrary to popular belief, this low average didn't mean adults automatically died in their thirties. Instead, it was heavily skewed by devastating infant mortality rates, rampant infectious diseases, limited medical knowledge, and poor sanitation. Even as late as 1900, the global average barely nudged past 31 to 32 years.

The true turning point arrived during the mid-20th century. Sweeping advances in public health, widespread vaccination programs, clean water infrastructure, and the discovery of antibiotics dramatically transformed human survival. By 1950, global life expectancy rose to around 46 to 48 years, eventually climbing to over 72 to 73 years by 2020. Within just a single century, human progress managed to more than double our collective lifespan.