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.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19790718.2.112
Bibliographic details
Press, 18 July 1979, Page 20
Word Count
290Who lives longest? Press, 18 July 1979, Page 20
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.