Born in 2020 Live 7.5 Years Longer Than Those Born in 2000... Increasing Share of 'Infectious Disease Deaths'

Japan ranks 2nd in OECD for average life expectancy... Women 2nd, Men 9th
Probability of living to 80 for those born in 2020: Women 81.5%, Men 62.6%

Highest risk of death due to infectious diseases including COVID-19

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The life expectancy of people born last year was 83.5 years, an increase of 7.5 years compared to 20 years ago. The overall average ranked 2nd among 38 OECD countries, following Japan. Both men and women lived more than 2 years longer than the average. Among the causes of death for both men and women, the probability of dying from infectious diseases such as COVID-19 increased the most compared to the previous year.

On the 1st, Statistics Korea announced the "2020 Life Table" containing this information. A life table is a statistical table that estimates how long a person of a certain age can live if the current age-specific mortality rates are maintained.

Source: Statistics Korea

The life expectancy of newborns last year was 83.5 years, 7.5 years longer than 76 years in 2000, 20 years ago. Life expectancy has been increasing since statistics were first compiled in 1970 and entered the 80s for the first time in 2009. The life expectancy of newborns last year increased by 0.2 years compared to the previous year.

By gender, the life expectancy of males born last year was 80.5 years, and females 86.5 years. Females lived 3.3 years longer than the OECD average of 83.2 years and ranked 2nd after Japan (87.7 years). Males lived 2.6 years longer than the average of 77.9 years and ranked 9th overall. It was 1.2 years shorter than the 1st place Iceland (81.7 years). The gap between men and women was 6 years, narrowing from a peak of 8.6 years in 1985.

Men who were 40 years old last year are expected to live another 41.5 years, and women another 47.3 years. This is an increase of 3.3 years and 2.7 years respectively compared to 10 years ago. Men aged 60 are expected to live 23.4 years, 2.6 years longer than 10 years ago, and women 28.2 years, an increase of 2.5 years. The probability that women born last year will survive to age 80 was 81.5%, and for men 62.6%. The probability of living to 100 years old was 5% for women and 1.3% for men.

Future probability trends of death from specific causes. (Data from Statistics Korea)

The probability of a person born last year dying from cancer was 20.7%. This was followed by heart disease (11.7%), pneumonia (9.1%), and cerebrovascular disease (7.4%). The probability of dying from the three major causes?cancer, heart disease, and pneumonia?was 46.8% for men and 37.4% for women.

Notably, the proportion of deaths caused by infectious diseases, including COVID-19 (certain infectious and parasitic diseases), increased the most compared to the previous year for both men and women. For men, it rose by 0.5 percentage points (2.8% → 3.3%), and for women by 0.6 percentage points (3.5% → 4.1%).

If newborns last year do not develop cancer, their life expectancy is analyzed to increase by 3.6 years to 87.1 years. Males without cancer are expected to live 4.5 years longer to 85 years, and females 2.7 years longer to 89.2 years.

Increase in Life Expectancy by Eliminating Major Causes of Death. (Source: Statistics Korea)