U.S. Life Expectancy Increases by 6 Weeks—Needs to Go Up by 52 Weeks Per Year At Least
According to Medical News Today, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting that U.S. average life expectancy has reached its highest ever level, increasing to 78.8 years, up from 78.7 years. As MNT also notes:
The report reveals that in 2012, the life expectancy for females stood at 81.2 years, while the life expectancy for men was 76.4 years. This difference of 4.8 years is the same as reported in 2011.
At the age of 65 years, life expectancy for the total population also saw an increase, from 19.2 years in 2011 to 19.3 years in 2012.
Again, women aged 65 had a longer life expectancy than men of the same age, at 20.5 years in 2011 and 17.9 years in 2012.* The authors say the life expectancy difference between men and women aged 65 increased by 0.1 years in 2011-12, from 2.5 years to 2.6 years. …
Or better stated from the CDC itself:
Life expectancy at 65 years for the total population was 19.3, 0.1 year higher than in 2011. Life expectancy at 65 years was 20.5 years for females and 17.9 years for males. The difference in life expectancy at 65 years between females and males increased 0.1 year from 2.5 years in 2011 to 2.6 years in 2012.
There were 597.8 deaths per 100,000 lives births in 2012, a 1.5% reduction from the 606.7 deaths per 100,000 reported in 2011.
The increase in life expectancy largely resulted from declines in age-adjusted rates of death from eight of the leading causes of death in the U.S., including heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes.
Six more weeks is nice, but much too far from actuarial escape velocity.
*Thanks to H&R commenter Warren for catching this screw up.
