Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
3.2. Life expectancy and aging
As in all rich countries, life expectancy at birth is high, and continues to increase
steadily in the United States. Male life expectancy today has reached 74.7 years and
that of women, over 80 years. This is less than in Western Europe and Japan due to
greater social inequalities which affect access to healthcare. These gaps are observed
at all ages.
Although the situation is improving, the infant mortality rate of 6.8% is slightly
higher than in Western Europe (4.5%). Population aging is a result of the
combination of longer life expectancies and declining fertility rates. The United
States population is aging, although much more slowly than the populations in
European countries and Japan (see Figure 3.3).
40
38
36
34
32
30
28
26
24
22
20
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
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2005
U.S.A.
World
Europe
Figure 3.3.
Median age of population by year
(Source: UN, Population Division)
As is the population in all northern countries, the US population is older than the
population of developing countries, but a comparison with Europe is interesting. The
two continents were in similar situations in the 1950s.
The American population then grew younger from 1955 to 1970, while the
European population grew older. The gap which was formed during that period has
been maintained since the two populations age similarly. Unlike the population
pyramid in many European and Asian countries, the US population pyramid shows
no marked narrowing at its base.
Considering, however, that the first postwar baby boomers will celebrate their
65th birthdays in 2010, the United States is now coming into a phase of accelerated
aging, just like all industrialized countries (see Figure 3.4).
