Fig. 1.6 Life Expectancies 1900-2100

Life expectancy graphs may be based on a period basis (Figures 2a and 2b) or on a cohort basis (Figures 3a and 3b).

Period basis “…. on a period basis. That is, life expectancy at a particular age for a specific year is based on the death rates for that and all higher ages that were, or are projected to be, experienced in that specific year.

Cohort basis “…. on a cohort basis, life expectancies at selected ages, by sex and year of birth. That is, life expectancy at a particular age for a specific year is based on death rates for that age in the specific year and for each higher age in each succeeding year. Life expectancies on a cohort basis tend to fluctuate less from year to year than do period-based life expectancies because of sudden and temporary events, such as a flu epidemic, which may affect the entire population, for a brief period of one or two years, but affect only one or two years of mortality experience for each of the cohorts alive during the period. Therefore, cohort life expectancies are more useful in analyzing subtle and gradual generational trends in mortality.”

Figure 2a—Life Expectancy at age 0

by Sex and Calendar Year

(Based on Period Tables)

[D]

Life Tables for the United States Social Security Area 1900-2100—Actuarial Study No. 120

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/NOTES/as120/images/LD_fig2a.html

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/NOTES/as120/LifeTables_Body.html

“Figure 2a shows life expectancy at age 0, by sex and calendar year, based on period life tables. Rapid gains in life expectancy at age 0 occurred from 1900 through the mid 1950's for both males and females. From the mid 1950's through the early 1970's, male life expectancy at age 0 remained level, while female life expectancy at age 0 increased moderately. During the 1970's faster improvement resumed for both males and females. Life expectancy for males and females in the 1980's improved only slightly with males improving more than females. In the 1990's, life expectancy has remained fairly constant for females, increasing only slightly for males.”

Figure 2b—Life Expectancy at age 65

by Sex and Calendar Year

(Based on Period Tables)

[D]

“Figure 2b shows life expectancy at age 65, by sex and calendar year, based on period life tables. Life expectancy at age 65 for males increased from 11.3 years in 1900 to 15.7 years in 2001, while for females the increase was from 12.0 years to 18.9 years. However, this sex gap diminished during the 1980's and 1990's and is projected to decrease only slightly in the future.

“Little increase was experienced from 1900 to 1930. Since then, rapid gains occurred for females until the significant slowdown of the 1980's. The 1990's have been stable for females. For males, improvement has been rapid since the 1930's, but with a stable period during the 1950's and 1960's.”

Life Tables for the United States Social Security Area 1900-2100—Actuarial Study No. 120

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/NOTES/as120/images/LD_fig2b.html

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/NOTES/as120/LifeTables_Body.html

Figure 3a—Life Expectancy at age 0

by Sex and Calendar Year

(Based on Cohort Tables)

[D]

Life Tables for the United States Social Security Area 1900-2100—Actuarial Study No. 120

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/NOTES/as120/images/LD_fig3a.html

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/NOTES/as120/LifeTables_Body.html

“Figure 3a shows life expectancy at age 0, by sex and year of birth, based on cohort life tables. Life expectancy at age 0 for males increased 28.6 years from 51.5 years for births in 1900 to 80.1 years for births in 2001. During the same period, life expectancy at age 0 for females increased 26.0 years from 58.3 years to 84.3 years. Thus the sex gap in life expectancy at birth in a cohort has decreases from 6.8 years for births in 1900 to 4.2 years for births in 2001. However, substantial increases in the sex gap in life expectancy at birth were experienced during this period, reaching 7.5 years for births in 1920, followed by a gradual decline to the projected gap for births in 2001.”

Figure 3b—Life Expectancy at age 65

by Sex and Calendar Year

(Based on Cohort Tables)

[D]

Life Tables for the United States Social Security Area 1900-2100—Actuarial Study No. 120

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/NOTES/as120/images/LD_fig3b.html

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/NOTES/as120/LifeTables_Body.html

“Figure 3b shows life expectancy at age 65, by sex and year of birth, based on cohort life tables. Life expectancy at age 65 for males is projected to increase from 13.5 years for males born in 1900 to 20.5 years for males born in 2001. During the same period, the life expectancy for females at age 65 is projected to increase from 18.0 years for females born in 1900 to 23.0 years for females in 2001. Thus the sex gap in life expectancy at age 65, on a cohort basis is projected to decrease from 4.5 years for those born in 1900 to 2.5 years for those born in 2001.”

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