Socio-Economic Determinants of Life Expectancy in Ghana and Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis

Purpose: This study investigated the socio-economic determinants of life expectancy in Ghana and Nigeria. Study Design/Methodology/Approach: A quantitative research approach involving time-series data of Ghana and Nigeria spanning 1970 to 2020 from the World Bank Indicator. A purposive sampling method was used. The analysis employed an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. Research Limitation: The study's geographic restrictions to Ghana and Nigeria could limit the applicability of its conclusions to other areas. Furthermore, life expectancy is complex, and data on other factors which may have been included for more in-depth analysis were not available at the time of this study. Findings: The research identified purchasing power and population growth as significant factors in determining overall life expectancy in Ghana and Nigeria. Environmental degradation makes no substantial contribution to overall life expectancy in Ghana but is a determining factor in overall life expectancy in Nigeria. For gender-specific life expectancy, the total fertility rate significantly impacts female life expectancies in both countries. In Ghana, environmental degradation, female education, and the share of the female population played insignificant roles in determining female life expectancy. In contrast, in Nigeria, they had a significant impact on female life expectancy. Environmental degradation is not important for male life expectancy in Ghana but is very substantial in deciding male life expectancy in Nigeria. The study concludes that the socio-economic determinants of Ghana and Nigeria are not the same Practical Implication: Governments of these countries should increase their involvement in improving the quality of life of their citizens by formulating effective policies that guide fertility-related activities. Social Implication: Socio-economic factors that affect specific genders should be taken into consideration when formulating policies. Originality/Value: This study provides new insights into the Socioeconomic differentials in life expectancy in Ghana and Nigeria. It contributes to the limited literature on the factors determining gender-specific life expectancy in Ghana and Nigeria and offers practical recommendations to improve life expectancy in these countries.