Significance This study highlights previously unknown patterns of tree longevity and growth across the world. Tree-ring data reveal a large-scale trade-off between tree longevity and growth, following global patterns of increasing forest productivity and biomass turnover rate from temperate to tropical regions. The oldest known trees live under dry conditions in temperate and boreal zones, while in the dry tropical lowlands, trees only reach relatively short lifespans. Longevity of tropical trees also sharply decreases above mean annual temperatures of 25.4 °C. Thus, predicted future changes in moisture availability and increases in temperature have the potential to reduce tree longevity in tropical lowlands impacting carbon stocks.