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The Increase in the Usual Life Span in North America

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Arthur S. Kraus
Arthur S. Kraus
Affiliation:
Queen's University
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Abstract

An assumed fixed maximum life span was involved in a much publicized prediction of a compression of morbidity in late life. The maximum life span has major weaknesses as a measure. The “usual life span“, or age to which 1.0% of a birth cohort survives, is suggested as a more useful measure.

Statistics were derived from recent United States and Canadian censuses on the age above which 1.0% of the population is contained, from recent United States and Canadian mortality data on the age above which 1.0% of the deaths were reported, and from recent Canadian life tables on the age to which 1.0% of a cohort would survive. These statistics suggest that the usual life span increased at least 2 years in the 1960–1980 period in North America.

Résumé

Une hypothèse sur la durée maximale fixée de la vie a fait éclat en prédisant la compression de l'abattement maladif durant le déclin de la vie. Cette supposition semble plutôt mal appropriée en tant que mesure. La “durée habituelle de la vie”, soit l'âge auquel 1.0% de la cohorte subsiste, semble se conformer plus aisément aux besoins de la cause.

Les statistiques ont été puisées de recensements récemment effectués aux États-Unis et au Canada sur l'âge au-dessus duquel 1.0% de la population est contenue. D'autres données numériques sont provenues de tables de mortalité publiées aux États-Unis et au Canada sur l'âge au-dessus duquel 1.0% des mortalités sont enrégistrées. Finalement, des chiffres ont été extraits des tables de durée moyenne de vie au Canada sur l'âge auquel 1.0% de la cohorte pourrait survivre.

Ces statistiques suggèrent que la durée habituelle de la vie a augmenté d'au moins deux ans durant la période 1960–1980 en Amérique du Nord.

Keywords

life spanlife table
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , Spring/printemps 1987 , pp. 19 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1987

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