If you’re hoping to live a long, happy life, you may have just gotten some great news. The average life expectancy is on the rise in many countries. By 2030, we’ll be averaging 90 years — in some places.

Not in the United States, however.

[lz_ndn video=32025762]

Imperial scientists and the World Health Organization wrapped up their latest assessment of life expectancy worldwide. While South Koreans are predicted to have the highest life expectancy in the world in 2030, the U.S. is likely to have the lowest. Men and women in the U.S. are expected to live to 79.5 and 83.3 years, respectively — on a par with middle-income countries like Croatia and Mexico.

South Korea’s much greater average life expectancy for a child who will be born in 2030 is said to be due, in large part, to good childhood nutrition, low blood pressure, low levels of smoking, and good access to health care, new medical knowledge and technologies. A girl born in South Korea in 2030 should expect to live 90.8 years, while a boy could reach 84.1 years.

Related: Best Source of Better Health Care: Yourself

Meanwhile, the U.S. is falling behind due to the highest rate of child and maternal mortality, homicide, and body-mass index of any high-income country. We are also the first high-income country to experience a halt or possibly a reversal of increase in height during adulthood — which is associated with higher longevity, researchers say. Our lack of universal health care is said to be another contributing factor.

The U.S. is joined in its challenges by Japan, Sweden, Greece, Macedonia, and Serbia — with some of the lowest projected life expectancy gains for both men and women.

Related: Keep Sitting and You’ll Die Sooner

“No one really knows how long we’ll live,” said Dr. Ramin Oskoui, a cardiologist in the Washington, D.C., area, CEO of Foxhall Cardiology PC and a regular contributor to LifeZette. “Much of this is speculation, and socialized medicine has nothing to do with better health outcomes.”

Who do you think would win the Presidency?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

A healthy, long life often depends far more on one’s genetics and lifestyle.

Countless families would enjoy nothing more than to see their loved ones successfully age and be around a few more years — but we’ve got work to do in terms of taking better care of ourselves. If that doesn’t change, providing medical and custodial care will continue to be a challenge for any nation, said Oskoui. He added, “Costs will dwarf what American society spends now.”