Who lives longest?

Press, 18 July 1979, Page 20

Who lives longest?

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

Before the Second World War the population of New Zealand was the longestlived of any national population in the world. This preeminent position has not been maintained. Comparing the expectation of life at birth in various countries with the last year (1977) for which New Zealand figures are available, it seems on average that males in Canada, Denmark, England and Wales, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Japan, can all expect to live longer than New Zealand males. Exact comparisons between statistics compiled in New Zealand and those available from other countries are not possible. Figures become

available at different times and are calculated from different dates. The following figures for average life expectancy in several countries are based on the most recent figures available: New Zealand male, 69.01 years; Australia, 67.90; Canada, 69.34; Denmark, 71.10; England and Wales, 69.60; France. 69; Netherlands, 71.20; Norway. 71.85; Scotland, 67,23; Sweden, 72.10; United States, 68.70; Japan, 72.15. Japan ranked highest and a male born in Japan in 1976 could expect to live three years longer than his New Zealand counterpart. Life expectancy figures for females are: New Zealand, 75.45 years; Australia, 74.60;

Canada, 76.36; Denmark, 76.80; France, 76.90; England and Wales, 75.80; Netherlands, 77.20; Norway, 78.12; Scotland, 73.61; Sweden, 77.75; United States, 76.50; Japan, 77.35. Norway ranked highest and a female born in Norway in 1975-76 could expect to live three years longer than her New Zealand counterpart. Female life expectancy in most of the countries listed is higher than in New Zealand. Between censuses in New Zealand, between 1970-72 and 1975-77, the life expectancy for the population of New Zealand continued to rise. For males it rose nearly six months and for females nearly nine months.