Life expectancy: Encyclopedia II - Life expectancy - Variations in life expectancy in the world today

Life expectancy - Variations in life expectancy in the world today

There are great variations in life expectancy worldwide, mostly caused by differences in public health, medicine and nutrition from country to country.

There are also variations between groups within single countries. For example, in the United States during the early 20th century there were large differences in life expectancy between people of different ethnicity, which have since lessened. There remain significant differences in life expectancy between men and women in the US and other developed countries, with women outliving men. These gender differences have been lessening in recent years, with men's life expectancy improving at a faster rate than women's. Poverty has a very substantial effect on life expectancy. In the United Kingdom life expectancy in the wealthiest areas is ten years longer than the poorest areas and the gap appears to be increasing as life expectancy for the prosperous continues to increase while in more deprived communities there is little increase. (Department of Health -Tackling health inequalities: Status report on the Programme for Action)

Air pollution may also reduce life expectancy, especially for those living near busy roads, due to the exhaust fumes from cars. Occupation may also have a major effect on life expectancy. Well-educated professionals working in offices have a high life expectancy, while asbestos and coal miners do not. Other factors affecting an individual's life expectancy are genetic disorders, access to health care, diet, exercise, tobacco smoking, and excessive drug and alcohol use.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Variations in life expectancy in the world today", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki