Impact of Human Capital and Income Inequality on Life Expectancy in Nigeria

Abstract

The study examines the impact of human capital and income inequality on life expectancy in Nigeria from 1985 to 2023, utilising secondary data from the World Development Indicators and employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. Evidence reveal that income inequality exerts a significant negative long-run effect on life expectancy, while human capital shows a robust positive impact. Critically, cointegration among variables is validated through bounds testing, and diagnostic checks confirm model robustness. The study recommends that sustainable improvements in Nigeria’s life expectancy require integrated policies prioritising equitable wealth distribution alongside strategic investments in education and healthcare infrastructure to enhance human capital, offering policymakers evidence-based pathways to bridge health disparities and advance socio-economic development.