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Life expectancy (LE) varies across countries in space and time, and economic growth and air pollution are two important influence factors to LE. This study mainly aims to investigate spatiotemporal trends in LE in 134 countries from 1960 to 2016 by using Bayesian spatiotemporal modeling. Further, the relations between per capita gross domestic product (GDP pc) and population-weighted fine particulate matter (pwPM 2.5) and LE are investigated from a global perspective from 1998 to 2016 by using the Bayesian regression model. The results illustrated the heterogeneity of spatiotemporal trends in LE globally. Specifically, Africa and South-East Asia show much lower LE levels, and the Americas, European, and Western Pacific exhibit a relatively higher LE level compared to the overall level. The countries with low overall levels of LE show a relatively stronger upward trend than the overall upward trend and vice versa. In addition, this study demonstrates that the spatial differences in effects of influence factors on LE in the six WHO regions in the 134 countries. Africa shows the highest positive regression coefficient of GDP pc and lowest negative regression coefficient of pwPM 2.5 on LE than other regions in the world. Furthermore, it shows the complexity of the interaction between economic growth and air pollution on LE across six WHO regions. Our findings suggest the public policies to reduce the health damage caused by air pollution, especially in Africa, Eastern Mediterranean, and Europe where the pwPM 2.5 negatively affect the LE benefits from economic growth. • Study the spatiotemporal changes in life expectancy in 134 countries, 1960–2016. • Different trends in life expectancy were found at both regional and national levels. • Impacts of economic growth on life expectancy are different in six WHO regions. • Impacts of air pollution on life expectancy are different in six WHO regions. • Air pollution can decrease the benefits from economic growth on life expectancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]