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How Have Life Expectancy Rates Changed over Time?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Life expectancy can be defined as the average amount of time a human being can expect to live. It is typically calculated in terms of years after birth, but it is sometimes calculated starting from other ages. Over the course of history, human life expectancy rates have increased overall. Many people believe this is due to changes in medical treatments and knowledge as well as advances in both nutrition and sanitation practices.

In the United States, the 1900s were marked by a rather low life expectancy. About half of all children born in 1900 were only expected to live to reach the age of 50. Today, life expectancy has changed dramatically, as the average person (of any sex) in the United States is expected to live to be about 77 years old. While life expectancy increases in the 20th century are often attributed to a combination of nutrition, changes in overall public health, and advances in medicine, one factor stands out among all the rest. In the 20th century, the rate of infant death in developed countries decreased dramatically.

The average life expectancy for Russian males fell to 59.9 years after the Soviet Union collapsed.
The average life expectancy for Russian males fell to 59.9 years after the Soviet Union collapsed.

It is worth noting that females have a longer life expectancy than males. Women are expected to live to be about 79.4 years old while men are only expected to live for about 73.6 years. The life expectancy for African Americans is also quite different. African American men have a life expectancy of about 67.2 years while African American women have an average life expectancy of about 74.7 years.

A combination of factors, including AIDS, keeps life expectancy low in many parts of Africa.
A combination of factors, including AIDS, keeps life expectancy low in many parts of Africa.

The most significant changes in life expectancy rates have been seen in wealthy parts of the world, which includes places like the United States and European countries. India has seen dramatic life expectancy increases as well, however. For example, around the middle of the 1900s, the life expectancy in India was a mere 32 years old, but by the turn of the century, it had doubled to 64 years. In nations that can be considered poor, rates today tend to be about half of those in wealthier, more technologically advanced nations. For example, in Third World countries, death rates due to diseases like AIDS have kept lifespans short.

As late as 1900, the average American life expetancy was only 50 years at birth.
As late as 1900, the average American life expetancy was only 50 years at birth.

There are some exceptions to the wealthy nation versus poorer nation rule. For example, Russia saw a decrease in life expectancy in 1999, following the fall of the Soviet Union, when rates dropped to 59.9 years for men and 72.43 years for women. In this nation, the lower lifespan was not blamed on disease, but instead may be due, in part, to increasing abuse of alcohol and drugs.

Obesity might lower life expectancy rates.
Obesity might lower life expectancy rates.

Today, obesity is a concern for many and may prove to lower the life expectancy rate over time, since it may contribute to certain diseases that can be deadly. For example, being overweight contributes to certain cancers and heart disease, and it also contributes to the development of diabetes. As such, some experts predict that rates in developed, wealthier nations will lower as the population becomes more obese.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

parmnparsley

@ Babalaas- When it comes to causes for racial discrepancies in life expectancy, all of your assumptions hold some truth. True for most any society that has a minority and majority population; socioeconomic status is a major contributor life expectancy and infant mortality.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 80% of all excess deaths (the difference between the number of white and black deaths for a given population sample) can be attributed to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, murder, accidents, cirrhosis, and HIV/AIDS.

You can link almost all these causes of death to differences in socioeconomic status. Some conditions like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease become genetic predispositions. You could also assume that some of these genetic predispositions are the result of generations of poor lifestyle choices partially due to centuries of lower socioeconomic status.

Babalaas

Why is there such a discrepancy between the death rates of blacks and Whites? Is there one contributing factor that doctors and social scientists link to increased mortality? Are socioeconomic forces the cause of higher mortality rates in African Americans? Alternatively, could a predisposition to certain diseases be a reason for the difference in life expectancy? What about cultural and lifestyle choices, are they the cause?

I know cultural and lifestyle choices are often closely tied to socioeconomic status, but I wonder if there is anything that can help to close the life expectancy gap. It is a little troublesome to think that improvements have been made to health care, but not everyone is benefiting equally.

anon77136

good.

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    • The average life expectancy for Russian males fell to 59.9 years after the Soviet Union collapsed.
      By: Evgenia Tubol
      The average life expectancy for Russian males fell to 59.9 years after the Soviet Union collapsed.
    • A combination of factors, including AIDS, keeps life expectancy low in many parts of Africa.
      By: erichon
      A combination of factors, including AIDS, keeps life expectancy low in many parts of Africa.
    • As late as 1900, the average American life expetancy was only 50 years at birth.
      By: LiliGraphie
      As late as 1900, the average American life expetancy was only 50 years at birth.
    • Obesity might lower life expectancy rates.
      By: Rob hyrons
      Obesity might lower life expectancy rates.
    • African American women have a life expectancy of 74.7 years.
      By: Carlos Santa Maria
      African American women have a life expectancy of 74.7 years.
    • Experts predict that life expectancy rates in developed nations may lower because of obesity.
      By: TAGSTOCK2
      Experts predict that life expectancy rates in developed nations may lower because of obesity.
    • The average American male lives for 73.6 years, but a nutritious diet and exercise can go a long way toward raising that average.
      By: Halfpoint
      The average American male lives for 73.6 years, but a nutritious diet and exercise can go a long way toward raising that average.
    • Wealthier people and women tend to have longer life expectancies.
      By: xalanx
      Wealthier people and women tend to have longer life expectancies.