Effects of economic freedom on life expectancy in Africa

By Idrissa Ouedraogo of Thomas Sankara University, Department of Economics, CEDRES, Saaba, Burkina Faso. 

Social Science & Medicine

Volume 388, January 2026, 118769

"Abstract

This paper empirically investigates the effects of economic freedom on life expectancy in a panel of 49 African countries over the period 2000–2022. Using Two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimates, the results show that economic freedom effects are beneficial to children, men, women and overall population health in Africa. Moreover, they show that economic freedom enhances life expectancy through education, (un)employment, and income. Therefore, strengthening economic freedom through gradual and targeted economic reforms can enhance human capital, employment, and growth, thereby improving life expectancy for all in Africa."