Life expectancy

Life expectancy is the average number of years a person or population is expected to live, calculated from mortality rates for a specified period or birth cohort.

Life table: A statistical table that tracks survival and mortality across ages for a population. It converts age-specific mortality rates into survival probabilities and expected years of life.
Mortality rate: The frequency of deaths in a population during a specified period, usually relative to its size. Life expectancy summarizes mortality patterns rather than directly measuring health or longevity for individuals.
Human Development Index: A composite measure of national development based on health, education, and income. Life expectancy at birth supplies the index's health dimension.
Maximum lifespan: The greatest age reached by an individual or the upper biological limit of lifespan in a species. Life expectancy describes an average, not the oldest possible or observed lifespan.
Age-specific mortality rate: The rate of deaths in a defined age group during a specified period. These rates provide the age-by-age inputs for a life table.
Infant mortality: Deaths of children under one year of age, commonly measured as a rate per live births. Deaths early in life can strongly lower life expectancy at birth.
Actuarial science: The use of mathematics and statistics to assess financial risks, especially those involving insurance and pensions. Mortality estimates inform life insurance pricing and pension calculations.
Life expectancy gap: The difference in life expectancy between two populations or groups. Averages conceal disparities that become visible through direct comparison.
Period life expectancy: An estimate based on mortality rates observed across ages during a particular period. It assumes current age-specific rates persist throughout a hypothetical lifetime.
Median survival: The time by which half of a defined group has experienced a specified event, such as death. Unlike an average lifespan, this measure identifies the midpoint of survival time.

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