US Average Life Expectancy

Life expectancy as you age. There is so much to do about the relative ages of the 2 front-runners for the US presidential race, that I delved into the actual data and found that at the age of 81, overall in the US, the average life expectancy is 8.1 years, that should bring the 81 year old to an age of roughly 89 years. Using the same table, a 77 year old has an expected life expectancy of 10.3 yeas, thus an age of 87. There are obviously factors that may affect those figures, the health, weight, etc., at the age are very important. This is all statistics based on epidemiological data, so is not directly referable to an individual, but is helpful when putting age into perspective.This can be good or bad news, depending upon your current age.

These figures are from CDC, accessed today

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr71/nvsr71-01.pdf

Spreadsheet version available from:

https://ftp.cdc.gov/.../Publications/NVSR/71-01/Table01.xlsx

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

GJOFJ3 · 61-69, M

Interesting even though quite meaningless

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@GJOFJ3 It isn't exactly meaningless, it is these tables that are used to set annuity and life insurance costs, and in general shows what one can expect for expectancy, in general.

GJOFJ3 · 61-69, M

@samueltyler2 I refer to averages as meaningless in a practical or individual sense.
Take 2 81 year olds, one dies at 81 and one lives to be 97. On an average they both lived to 89

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@GJOFJ3 That is not what the tables do. If you actually look at the spread sheet, the data can predict, on average, what percentage of 81 year olds will survive another year, then those of 82 to live another, etc. The curve is not linear. but it does show that simply comparing any 2 people at certain ages to predict who will live longer isn't backed by data.

GJOFJ3 · 61-69, M

@samueltyler2 Which is what my original point was about.
Interesting and useful in an actuarial sense, meaningless in terms of the two leading contenders for the 2024 election

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@GJOFJ3 I was only using those ages as an example. But, since you brought up the specifics, if you are a better, you bet on odds. If you had to bet on which would live to the year 2028, take a look at the tables. oddly, it turns out the 81 year old has better odds to live to 2028 or 2029 than the 77 year old. If you want to get really disturbed, look at the data for younger people. Part of the change in life expectancy in adulthood which has happened over the past 10 years is based on increased suicides and unintentional drug overdoses, as well as COVID. This is prompting specific public health moves.