Low-cost health interventions could unlock $6 trillion in global gains by 2040 – WEF

Low-tech, low-cost health interventions could prevent around 400 million falls at home, 8.5 million new cases of type 2 diabetes and 2.4 million dementia cases by 2040, while generating up to $5.8 trillion in healthcare savings and $645 billion in productivity gains, according to a new World Economic Forum report.

The report, The Longevity Dividend: The Business Case for Linking Health and Wealth, developed with Marsh, examined prevention strategies across 21 countries. It found that simple measures such as expanding access to hearing aids, improving home safety and scaling physical activity programmes could deliver multi-trillion-dollar economic and health benefits by 2040.

However, the WEF warned that much of this potential remains untapped because governments and businesses continue to treat health, financial security and workforce participation as separate policy areas.

Hidden economic costs of poor health

The report highlights how poor health places pressure on healthcare systems while also weakening financial resilience and labour participation.

For example, women who spend just one year in caregiving roles face a 24% reduction in retirement savings, driven by time out of the workforce and the gender pay gap. Despite this, the report notes that institutions often fail to address the combined impact of health and financial vulnerability.

“Longevity is not about getting old,” said Haleh Nazeri, Lead, Longevity Economy at the World Economic Forum. “Harnessing this multi-trillion-dollar shift requires governments, businesses and individuals to begin addressing physical and financial health together. This can strengthen financial resilience, reduce healthcare costs and increase productivity across economies.”

Prevention areas with the biggest economic impact

The report identifies three key areas where low-cost prevention could deliver significant returns.

Falls prevention through home safety improvements

Simple home modifications such as stair lighting, rug tape and grab bars could help prevent nearly 400 million falls globally by 2040. The measures could generate more than $5 trillion in healthcare savings, compared with under $400 billion in estimated retrofit costs for at-risk older adults.

Falls often lead to long-term health complications and increased caregiving demands, which disproportionately affect women and can reduce lifetime earnings. The report estimates that prevention could protect around $363 billion in lost earnings and financial security globally.

In Saudi Arabia alone, home safety upgrades could prevent 330,000 falls and save $3.8 billion in healthcare costs by 2040.

Physical activity and diabetes prevention

The report also highlights large-scale physical activity programmes as a key lever in preventing type 2 diabetes. Community-based initiatives could prevent 8.5 million new cases by 2040, at a cost of between $1 and $40 per person.

In return, such programmes could deliver more than $125 billion in productivity gains and $85 billion in healthcare savings. China represents one of the largest opportunities, where diabetes prevention efforts could generate 16 million healthy years for people aged over 50.

Expanding access to hearing aids to reduce dementia risk

A third priority is improving access to hearing aids, which the report links to reduced dementia risk and improved quality of life. Fewer than 20% of the estimated 400 million people with hearing loss currently use hearing aids, according to the World Health Organization.

Scaling access could prevent around 2.4 million dementia cases globally and generate more than $325 billion in healthcare savings by 2040. In high-income countries, the intervention is expected to pay for itself.

The Netherlands is cited as a strong example, where expanded hearing aid access could prevent more than 8,000 dementia cases and save the healthcare system around $2 billion.