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Life expectancy rates

Life expectancy is defined as “the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year, if mortality at each age remains constant in the future. (…) Life expectancy at birth is also a measure of overall quality of life in a country and summarizes the mortality at all ages. It can also be thought of as indicating the potential return on investment in human capital and is necessary for the calculation of various actuarial measures”.

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First of all, the following table shows the life expectancy of Colombians at birth from 1985 to 2015, an index calculated approximately every 5 years by the DANE.

The table above shows the life expectancy at birth of Colombians. First, there is a growth in the average age of life expectancy of Colombians. Between men and women, there has always been a significant difference in age, with women having a much higher average life expectancy than men. Between 2000 and 2005 the life expectancy of men at birth was 69.17 years, while for women it was 77.10. There the difference in age was 7.93 years; for an average of 72.17 years. Likewise, during the period from 2010 to 2015 the life expectancy of men at birth was 70.95 years, while for women it was 77.10. There the difference of age was of 6, 15 years; for an average of 73.95 years.

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Similarly, the following table shows the life expectancy difference between men and women and the average of both, as well as the estimates of the following years of this indicator.

The table above shows the variation during 1985 - 1990 between men and women. Here it is observed the life expectancy at birth of the Colombians. This indicator has shown a significant increase for several decades. Since 1985, it has increased 6 years for the general population (74 years in 2010), where life expectancy is also higher for women. In 1995 women lived on average 6.8 years more and in this same year the difference reached a maximum of 8.03 years. Finally, it is estimated that in 2020 the difference in life expectancy between women and men will reach 6.31 years.

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According to the information above, it is possible to conclude that over the years life expectancy is higher in women than in men, and that this age difference is quite large. However, it is important to take into account that although the difference is significant, this has been gradually reduced.

 

Referencies:

https://www.dane.gov.co/files/investigaciones/poblacion/proyepobla06_20/8Tablasvida1985_2020.pdf

http://www.indexmundi.com/es/colombia/expectativa_de_vida_al_nacer.html

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