Posted: Aug 02, 2011 10:53 am
susu.exp wrote:That´s life expectancy at birth, a number that is strongly affected by infant mortality rates. The thing that had (and has in places) the greatest impact on life expectancy figures is natal care, followed closely by vaccinations.
This is also said when historical times are discussed; however, though infant mortality is an important factor in average life expectancy, it's not the whole thing. Still in the 18th and 19th century, it was by no means unusual for people to die in their 40s or 50s, with some ill-defined cause scribbled into the registry. When the Bismarck government (around 1890?) established old age pension for industrial workers, retirement age was 60. Few reached it, and still fewer enjoyed their pensions for an appreciable time.