On the flip side, life expectancy in Brazil has been on a strong upward trajectory over the last 70 years, aside from a COVID-related blip, rocketing from 48.1 years in 1950 to 76.2 today. It's set to rise further to 81.3 by 2050.

The average figure does, however, hide shocking polarities in a nation with some of the world's largest economic and health inequalities. For example, life expectancy for residents of São Paulo's poorest neighbourhood, Cidade Tiradentes, was just 58.3 in 2021, while for the well-heeled denizens of Alto de Pinheiros – the city's most affluent locale – it was pegged at 80.9. On the bright side, inequality has actually been falling this century, and the gap between rich and poor will likely narrow further in the future.

Where people are predicted to live the longest by 2050