Which country's people have the longest life expectancy and why?

Life Expectancy Formulae and Factors

Researchers examine death certificates to calculate life expectancy statistics. From these, they cull age, race, gender, reason for death and other data related to a person's death. When combined with census numbers, these data help calculate an average life expectancy for a national population. Life expectancy data can also be broken down by criteria such as gender, and divided even further into more specific groups as needed.

Life expectancy is a raw statistic, but what factors influence these statistics? A wide array of characteristics -- some unique, others universal -- make a population and its life expectancy what they are. Multidisciplinary population studies help sociologists, economists, psychologists, statisticians and public health professionals learn more about who people are.

Sam Abell/National Geographic/Getty Images The health of the elderly can have a positive or negative impact on average life expectancy. A healthy elderly population will contribute to a higher average, while an elderly population in poor health will do just the opposite.

The prevalence of­ disease within a population has an effect on the average life expectancy. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that, in 2005, 38 percent of the adult population of Swaziland, the African nation with the lowest life expectancy in the world, was inflicted with AIDS or HIV. This alone doesn't account for Swaziland's low average life expectancy (38 years for men and 37 years for women), but it has a tremendous impact. Zero percent of the population of Andorra, on the other hand, has AIDS or HIV [source: WHO].

The prevalence of AIDS in Swaziland displays how factors affecting life expectancy are intertwined. Residents of the African nation have less access to health care than Andorrans, in large part be­cause of poverty. Swaziland has a per capita gross domestic product of $5,300, and 69 percent of its residents live below the poverty line.

Poverty also prevents access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Eighty-seven percent of Swaziland's urban population and 42 percent of its rural population has access to safe water. The numbers are similar for access to sanitation. Conversely, 100 percent of both Andorra's rural and urban population has access to safe water and sanitation. One reason it's easier to provide Andorrans with better sanitation is because of the country's size: Fewer people require fewer sewers, and the country saves money on installation and maintenance costs.

Education is another factor that contributes to a longer life expectancy. Only 81 percent of Swaziland's population of more than 1 million people is literate, compared to 100 percent of Andorra's residents. Andorra also has a 100 percent employment rate for its 42,420-person-strong labor force.

So Andorra is smart, small and wealthy. Its people have access to good water, sanitation and health care. But there is at least one other factor that affects the life expectancy of Andorrans: They don't have to worry as much about being killed in an act of god -- their only natural hazards are avalanches.

Which country's people have the longest life expectancy and why?

Babies born in the United States in 2005 are expected to live an average of 77.9 years, according to a 2007 study by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. That's an increase of more than 30 years since 1900, when Americans were expected to live just 47.3 years [source: Medline Plus]. While the increase is impressive, America is not at the top of the list for life expectancy. Actually, the United States ranks behind 41 other countries.

Residents of Okinawa, a Japanese island, have long been endowed with high life expectancies. In 2002, there were 34.7 people 100 years or older per 100,000 residents, the highest life expectancy of any area in the world [source:USA Today]. People so envy Okinawans' vitality that doctors created a popular diet based on theirs to help others try to live longer. Still, while Okinawa may feature the highest population of centenarians -- people who are 100 years of age or older -- Japan is ranked second in life expectancy with an average of 82.

So to whom does the honor of first place go? It's a country you may never have heard of. The residents of Andorra, a tiny mountain nation in the Pyrenees between France and Spain, are expected to live to the ripe old age of 83.5. But why are Andorrans expected to live so much longer than anyone else? And how can you calculate something as unpredictable as how long someone will live?

Roughly the same area as New Orleans, La., or Warsaw, Poland, Andorra is home to around 72,000 people. It was established in 1278, but was a co-principality -- ruled jointly by Spain and France -- until 1993, when it became a democracy.

Live Long & Prosper Do short people live longer? Countries With the Highest Life Expectancy What are blue zones?

It was ge­nerally a poor country until after ­World War II, when Andorra reinvented itself as a tourist destination for skiing. Now, with a gross domestic product (GDP) -- the total of all of the goods and services produced in a year -- of $2.77 billion U.S., Andorra has what the CIAcharacterizes as a "well-to-do" economy.

But wealth alone doesn't grant a lengthy life expectancy. The United States is one of the world's richest countries, with a GDP of $43,500 per person. Andorra has a per capita GDP of $38,800 [source: CIA]. Read about other factors that affect life expectancy on the next page.

Happy Tom (89) Successful Aging

Tom is one of the most popular person in KP.

Chang (89) and Susan (70)

年齢の嘘（うそ） No5

1. 病気や傷害を予防し、心身の働きを高いレベルに保つ。
・運動は健康維持に不可欠な要素である。運動することで、心疾患・高血圧・糖尿病などの発症率の低下がある。

2. 生産的な活動を続ける。
・有償なら生産的、無償なら非生産的だとみなされていたが、経済的価値のある財やサービスを生み出す活動は有給にしろ無給にしろ生産活動と考え始めた。積極的に、社会とかかわったり、人のために行動したり、心身を常に刺激することに価値がある。

3. 友人とのよい人間関係をもつ。
・①周囲の支援・・・「自分は関心が持たれ、大事にされた、尊重され、相互の義務に基ずくネットワークの一員になっている、と思われてくれる.」そうした、情報を分かち合う者同士で交流すると、心身を守ることができる。
・②心の支え・・・親愛の情や好意、尊敬の念を示す.


4. 新しいことに挑戦し、積極的な生き方をする。
コンピュータなどを始めたら良いのではないでしょうか？８９歳のトムでもメール、ブログ、インターネットはすでにできます。
・自己効力を高めることで、新しい問題に立ち向かったり、新しい課題に挑戦する心構えができる→褒め言葉をかけることで効率が上る。

これにて、終了です。ご清聴ありがとうございました。

年齢の嘘（うそ） No4

誤解１　高齢者は病気がちだ
・生活習慣の影響力も大きいことがわかった。しかも、生活習慣なら自分の意志でかえられる。
誤解２　新しい技術は若くなければマスターできない
・結果によると、新しい知識を学ぶ力があり、実際に身に付けている。
・加齢とともに難しくなる種類の学習もある。
・短期記憶力では、若者に劣っているが、しかるべき訓練を積めば記憶力の衰えは克服できる。
・アメリカ社会は未だに年齢で区切っている、生涯学習の必要性が増しているのに、教育機関は新しい現実においついていない。
誤解３　今さら始めても遅すぎる
・タバコを手放せない人は、「今、やめても意味がない」→これは、安易な言い訳
　研究によると、禁煙・ほど良い食事・適度な運動など、健康に良い習慣はいつ始めても遅すぎることはない。
誤解４　両親は選べないからあきらめるしかない
・家系に特有の習慣や経験と遺伝子とを区別する必要がある。生活をともにする期間が長くなるにつれて、家　族で共有する特徴は増えていく、それを遺伝子自体が加齢変化で果たす役割の表れは誤解。環境と生活習慣が及ぼす影響が大きい。
誤解５　明かりは点くが、電圧は低い（性的関心は衰える一方だ）
・性行為は年齢とともに減少する傾向にあるが、個人差も大きい。性交自体とその他もろもろの肉体的接触と　の区別があるが、愛情のこもった肉体的接触は、人間の基本的欲求であり、生まれた瞬間から息を引き取るまで絶対に欠かせない。それに関して、電圧が低くなることは決してなく、高電圧で照明は明るく保たれる。
誤解６　高齢者は社会のお荷物だ
・貢献度を測る基準が間違っていて、大量生産的活動が計算に入っていない。
・活躍の場が公平でなく、高齢者は有利な職に就く機会が少ない。
・生産的活動（有償労働・ボランティア活動など）に参加する意志も能力もある高齢者は数え切れないほどいる。

♪内容は半分位まで読みました、もうしばらくお付き合いください♪

From Joe about Gerontology.

Some really good advice/suggestions about gerontology...Enjoy and share with others. aloha



Health

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

4. Live with the 3 E's : Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

5. Make time daily to read, meditate, and pray.

6. Play more games.

7. Read more and watch less TV/computer than you did last year.

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

9. Sleep for 7 hours.

10. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

Personality

11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.

14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip share good news instead.

16. Dream more while you are awake.

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner, friends, children, or parents with the mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Hate only what takes away from making you the best you can be.

20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23. Smile, laugh, and love more.

24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society

25. Call your family often.

26. Each day give something good to others.

27. Forgive everyone for everything.

28. Spend time with younger people.

29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30. What other people think of you is none of your business.

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.

Life

32. Do the right thing!

33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

34. You can deal with everything. You are not given more then you can take.

35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

37. The best is yet to come.

38. When you awake alive in the morning, be thankful for it.

39. Keep your eye simple and be happy.

SA (11)

Those who participate in social activities or groups seem to experience the same protective benefits as those who exercise, according to the study. Those who participated in work or volunteer activities were less likely to show physical decline as they aged, and so were those who socialized regularly with friends.

Successful Aging (10)

The key components of successful aging were exercise, social engagement, and a positive mental attitude. These factors predict better cognitive and physical functioning in both older and younger people. Getting together with friends while engaging in physical activity seems to provide "double bonus points" of protection against physical and cognitive decline.

年齢の嘘（うそ） No3

成功加齢　Successful Aging

1. 病気や障害を避ける・病気や障害のリスクをできるだけ小さくすることは、生涯にわたって大切。病気を予防するには、病気そのものに先立つ兆候や検査結果にこれまで以上に注意を払うこと。

1. 心身の機能を保つ・・・身体機能を維持するのには、体に何か働きかけること。知的能力を保てるかどうかは肉体の健康状態に左右される。

1. 積極的に社会とかかわる・・・新しい友人を見つけ、活動の中心を有償労働から有益なボランティア活動に切り替え、欠かさず運動し、増えた余暇を楽しむ。

テニスコートにいる、多くの方々が実行されているように、思えます。
高齢になってから、始めるのではなく若いころからの準備期間も大切です。

Successful Aging (成功加齢)の条件。

　

1. 病気や傷害を予防し、心身の働きを高いレベルに保つ。

1. 生産的な活動を続ける。

1. 友人とのよい人間関係をもつ。

1. 新しいことに挑戦し、積極的な生き方をする。

以上のようなことが成功加齢の共通条件のようです。

年齢の嘘（うそ） No2

誤解１　高齢者は病気がち
誤解２　新しい技術は若くなければマスターできない
誤解３　今さら始めても遅すぎる
誤解４　両親は選べないからあきらめるしかない
誤解５　明かりはつくが、電圧は低い（性的関心は衰える一方）
誤解６　高齢者は社会のお荷物だ

年齢の嘘（うそ） No1

読書の秋　今、読んでます。
内容の一部です。
アメリカでの老人の通念
通念１　高齢者は病気がち
通念２　新しい技術は若くなければマスターできない
通念３　今さら始めても遅すぎる
通念４　両親は選べないからあきらめるしかない
通念５　明かりはつくが、電圧が低い（性的関心は衰えるばかりだ）
通念６　高齢者は社会のお荷物だ

以上の事柄について、検討し人間の寿命や健康とのかかわりを調べるお話・・・。

Congratulation! Susan(70). You became a contributor now.

Chang (89), Jacey (85) and Susan (70) are enjoying tennis here (court#1). They are some of Successful Aging people here.

Successful Aging Written by John W. Rowe

Nick Burniske (70) Successful Aging (7)

He is a very good 5 or 5.5 tennis player even if he is 70 years old. Also he is very energetic and healthy. He told me 4 secrets for his health:

1. Drink water a lot
2. Eat fresh foods
3. Excise (tennis, walking and so on )
4. Sleep well
   

Pauline and Ann: You know him very well. So could you tell him more in the comment below?

Successful Aging (5)

Ｔｈｅ　ｂｅｓｔ　ｐｌａｃｅ　ｔｏ　ｍｅｅｔ　ｚｉｐｐｉｅｓ　ｉｎ　ＨＩ　ｉｓ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ＫＰ　ｔｅｎｎｉｓ　ｃｏｕｒｔ　＃１．：
I discovered that Joyce (83), Jacey (85), Chang (89), and Susan were playing and enjoying tennis there. The total age of the zippies is more than 300 years old!!!

Successful Aging (3) Michael Chang

Doi calls him, "Micheal Chang." He tells us, " Michael Chang is my little little brother, who was a champion of the French Open in 1988, when he was 18 years old." It turns out that this big big brother will be 90 years old next year. We have been exclaiming at the amazing degree of his age and his health. He is a perennial tennis player.

Successful aging (2)

２１世紀に入り、体を動かさないでじっと寝ている「不動」の状態は、内臓や骨、筋肉、感覚器などにかえって悪影響を与えることが実証されました。
消化器系や泌尿器・生殖器系の器官の働きが規制され、便秘や体内に浮腫を起こすという結果も報告されています。
筋力の衰え、骨粗鬆症、血行障害など、さまざまなトラブルを生じます。

６５歳以上を対象にした最近の米国の研究では、高齢者が１０日間、トイレ以外に動かないでベッドの上に寝たままでいると、健康な人でも骨格筋が衰えてしまうことが実証されました。

この研究結果のように、過度な安静状態は、かえって高齢者をダメにしてしまいます。
この事実を、日本でも広く浸透させたいものです。

Successful aging (1)

米国マッカーサー財団のジョン・Ｗ・ローウェ博士らは、心身ともに健康な高齢者１０００人を研究対象に、どんな生活条件が健康な長寿をもたらすのかを、１０年かけて研究してきました。
上手に加齢を導くことを「成功加齢（Ｓｕｃｃｅｓｓｆｕｌ　Ａｇｉｎｇ）」と名づけ、研究成果をまとめた本を９８年に米国で発表し、日本でも００年に「年齢の嘘（うそ）」（日経ＢＰ社）として刊行されました。
　
病気や傷害を予防し、心身の働きを高いレベルに保つ。
生産的な活動を続ける。
友人とのよい人間関係をもつ。
新しいことに挑戦し、積極的な生き方をする。
以上のようなことが成功加齢の共通条件のようです。