What does life expectancy really mean?

The Psalmist said “The length of our days is 70 years - or 80, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away” - Psalm 90:10.

This Psalm, attributed to Moses many centuries ago, still shows relevance today.

Life expectancy can be defined as:

• the number of years that somebody a given age is expected to live
• the age to which a person is expected to live

Life expectancy is the average life span of a particular age/sex cohort. Obviously, some will die before that age and some will live longer.

Life expectancies have been generally increasing. When I was born in the middle of World War II, (October 1942) my life expectancy as a Canadian male was 63 years. My current life expectancy as a Canadian male age 65 is 17 years. According to the latest Statistics Canada Tables (2000 - 2002) males born in Canada now have a life expectancy of 76.92 years and females 82.03 years.

If you would like to see your life expectancy at your current age, visit our website calculator.

Remember, life expectancies are an average - not a fixed period.