Thursday, January 12, 2012

U.S. Life Expectancy Reaches New High of 78.7 Yrs.

Life expectancy in the U.S. increased to a new all-time high of 78.7 years in 2010, according to data released yesterday by the government.  The chart above shows the significant correlation between real GDP per capita and life expectancy in the U.S. from 1929 to 2010.

For a longer interactive graphic from Gapminder that covers the period from 1800 to 2010 showing the relationship between U.S. life expectancy and real GDP per capita, go here.

17 Comments:

At 1/12/2012 12:59 PM, Blogger Trevre said...

One should note this is the Natural Log of GDP per capita. The Log of GDP per capita would be even more useful, demonstrating very clearly that for every order of magnitude increase in GDP per capita we live 20 years longer. There is nothing proving this will continue in the future forever but I wouldn't miss a bet on it.

 
At 1/12/2012 3:47 PM, Blogger kmg said...

All this despite the American diet being among the worst in the world.

If only people took better care of their diet, another 5 years could be added.

 
At 1/12/2012 3:54 PM, Blogger kmg said...

Note that US life expectancy is rising by 0.2 years every year. This means it is rising at 20% of Actuarial Escape Velocity.

More on Actuarial Escape Velocity here :
http://www.singularity2050.com/2008/03/actuarial-escap.html

Some think that by 2040, life expectancy will rise 1 year every year, effectively creating near-immortality for those who are still young in 2040 (probably not anyone reading Carpe Diem in 2012 :( )

 
At 1/12/2012 4:04 PM, Blogger Jon Murphy said...

US life expectancy fell significantly in the mid-late 30's. Why is that?

 
At 1/12/2012 4:19 PM, Blogger kmg said...

US life expectancy fell significantly in the mid-late 30's. Why is that?

Are you aware of something called the Great Depression?

 
At 1/12/2012 5:12 PM, Blogger juandos said...

Imagine that! And red wine didn't contribute to it for its alledged medicinal value...

 
At 1/12/2012 5:34 PM, Blogger knifecatcher said...

1872-1880 life expectancy stayed at 39.
gdp increased 4106-5179.
0% vs 20%.

1880-1888, life expectancy increased from 39-44.
gdp increased from 5179-5331.
13% vs 3%.

 
At 1/12/2012 5:46 PM, Blogger bix1951 said...

Actually there was a big increase in life expectancy from 1900 to 1990
it increased from 47.3 to 75.4 years
an average of .3 years per year
since then it has increased to 78.7
an increase of .17 years per year.
so the increase is really slowing as one would expect from the law of diminishing returns.
Qatar has per capita GDP of $179,000
and life expectancy of 76 male 80 female
go figure!

 
At 1/12/2012 9:44 PM, Blogger Hydra said...

That graph and data kind of puts the stink on the idea that we are ruining the environment with rampant industrialism.

 
At 1/12/2012 9:45 PM, Blogger Hydra said...

for every order of magnitude increase in GDP per capita we live 20 years longer.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Well, yeah, when a good chunk of that GDP goes to health care.

 
At 1/12/2012 9:48 PM, Blogger Hydra said...

Qatar has per capita GDP of $179,000
and life expectancy of 76 male 80 female
go figure!


================================

The life expectancy may be spread around more evenly than the proceeds from the GDP.

 
At 1/12/2012 9:48 PM, Blogger Hydra said...

That graph and data kind of puts the stink on the idea that we are ruining the environment with rampant industrialism.

 
At 1/13/2012 8:58 AM, Blogger QT said...

Increased GDP has many other positive benefits with the exception of the resource curse

 
At 1/13/2012 9:15 AM, Blogger Hydra said...

GDP gives important clues as to how well a country is doing. I say “clues”, because wellbeing and standard of living are partially but not primarily a matter of financial or monetary wealth ....

===============================

Good link, Thanks.

 
At 1/13/2012 3:18 PM, Blogger juandos said...

"Qatar has per capita GDP of $179,000 and life expectancy of 76 male 80 female go figure!"...

Well hydra are you again making it up as you go along or did you misread your source material?

 
At 1/14/2012 9:55 PM, Blogger Hydra said...

Juandos : that wasn't my quote. That was bix.

If you weren't so eager to jump down my throat......

 
At 1/14/2012 10:05 PM, Blogger juandos said...

"If you weren't so eager to jump down my throat"...

Well gee hydra if your comments were a little more clearly written...

Just saying is all...

 

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