How an Average Person's Life Expectancy Changed Over the Years

Calculated as a statistical average, average life expectancy denotes the number of years an average individual is expected to live. It is the average age, calculated for a group of people, up to which a person of the group is likely to live.

The average life expectancy around the world, including India, is based on varied variables, such as lifestyle, diet, nutrition, sanitation, living conditions, hygiene, affordable and accessible medical facilities, morbidity data, etc. A higher average human lifespan for a region is a good sign. It means that the living conditions and health facilities allow people to lead a longer life, which in turn benefits the country with a healthy human resource.

Let us have a look at how an average Indian’s life expectancy has changed over the years.

Let us look at the following table@ that shows the increasing average life expectancy in India:

^@Source:
 

1. India Life Expectancy 1950-2022 | MacroTrends

Life expectancy is essentially a health index. It is a clear result of a wide variety of factors getting better in an individual’s life. Let us look at some top factors that led to this rise in life expectancy in India.

• Access and Availability of Health Facilities: The number of public health centres as well as private health facilities is steadily increasing in India. The level of access to better health services has a direct impact on the overall well-being and life expectancy of an individual.

  People can get quality treatment against some common as well as life-threatening diseases and mothers can access good healthcare during pregnancy, leading to an improved life expectancy.

  While India is still lagging in terms of global rankings and standards, on an individual level, we have shown decent growth in health access.

• Nutrition and Immunisation: Recent years have seen a considerable increase in the number of nutritional supplements, vaccines, immunisation programmes, etc., that help an individual fight a wide variety of deficiencies and diseases.

  This was clearly evident in the recent coronavirus pandemic, when experts across the world, including India, rallied to find a vaccine within a year. Companies came out with supplements to improve immunity and help your fight against the virus.

  This shows the improvement in the medical facilities that help the average population fight major health conditions and improve their lifespan.

• Prevention and Treatment of Diseases: Taking the example of the pandemic again, we saw how the medical fraternity worked day in and day out to find the correct course of treatment, medicines, isolation procedures, etc. for a virus that wreaked global havoc within a few months. The advancement in the field of medicine made this possible.

  Similarly, this development has also made the prevention and cure of a wide range of life-threatening illnesses possible. In recent times, we are hearing hopeful news about a possible cure for HIV-AIDS, which was traditionally thought to be an incurable condition.

  Thus, the wonders of modern medicine improve the survival rate, thereby increasing the average life expectancy.

• Insurance Coverage: Traditionally, the penetration of life insurance has been low in India. The lack of access to information was one of the primary factors for this. However, in recent years, we have seen a rising demand for insurance, especially health insurance and life insurance plans. The havoc created by the recent coronavirus pandemic also made people realise the importance of insurance.

  Health insurance helps you tide through the rising health expenditure in India and avail of the best possible treatment. This improves your overall health and survival rate through major illnesses and thus, improves your lifespan.

  A life policy is one of the important parts of your overall financial plan. Life covers with maturity benefits provide regular payouts and bonuses that help you improve your overall standard of living. Further, in case of the death of the primary wage earner, the family can manage the financial aspects through the life insurance payout, thereby allowing a better life. The surviving family members have enough financial support to access good health facilities and lead a healthy, well-provided life.

  Thus, access to good insurance policies improves the overall well-being and life expectancy of individuals.

However, there are still a few points of concern that impact the overall health and general well-being of the average Indian. Let us look at a few of them.

Recently we have seen a significant shift in the lifestyle in India. A rise in sedentary lifestyle, increased consumption of unhealthy junk food, higher intake of alcohol and smoking, deteriorating air quality, worse pollution, etc., have led to a lot of health issues among the common Indians, affecting their lifespan. The most common forms of health issues that arise from this are -

• Non-Communicable Diseases - Diabetes, obesity-related issues, heart issues (heart attacks, blockages), pulmonary issues (respiratory failure, tuberculosis, lung cancer), multiple types of cancers, mental health issues (anxiety, depression, Alzheimer’s, Schizophrenia, early-onset dementia)

• Chronic Illnesses - Asthma, hypertension, diabetes, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Life expectancy is an important factor in determining how life insurance works because it is linked to the expected duration of a policyholder's life.

Premium calculation

Mortality risk will be taken into account when setting premiums. The amount of the premium payable may be affected by lifestyle, age, health and the length of the term of the policy.

Policy planning

With the extension of lifespan, financial planning can have to consider a longer retirement period and the possibility of healthcare expenses. During the life of the policy, life insurance can offer financial security to the dependants.

Changing insurance needs

An extended lifespan can impact what and how long insurance coverage is taken into account. People can check their insurance when their income, long-term financial requirements, and family obligations vary.

The life expectancy varies by region due to variations in countries' access to health care, economic development, nutrition and living conditions. Generally, countries with well-developed healthcare systems and greater access to prevention have higher life expectancy. 

The 2024 average age of a person's life in the world was 73 years, and in India it was 72 years. Others, such as Japan and Italy, saw much higher rates, around 84 years.

Source: World Bank, 2024 data.

These differences highlight how public health infrastructure, disease prevention and access to medical services can affect population longevity.

Healthcare and technology have contributed substantially to longer lifespans by improving disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Better disease prevention

• Vaccination programmes help prevent infectious diseases.

• Improved sanitation and access to clean water reduce the spread of several illnesses.

• Regular health screenings can help identify medical conditions at an earlier stage.

Advances in medical treatment

• Modern medicines have improved the management of chronic and infectious diseases.

• Improved surgical techniques have increased survival rates for several serious conditions.

• Emergency and critical care have become more effective.

Role of technology

• Digital health records help healthcare professionals access patient information efficiently.

• Telemedicine can improve access to consultations, particularly in underserved areas.

• Medical imaging and diagnostic technologies support earlier and more accurate detection of diseases.

Despite the improved quality of life, we saw how the changing lifestyle and consumption habits can lead to deteriorating health. This can directly impact the life expectancy of an individual.

While we can have some control over factors such as eating healthy, limiting consumption of alcohol, not smoking, we cannot control other factors like rising pollution, stressful work environments and so on. Therefore, it is imperative to secure yourself and your family against any eventualities.

Life insurance allows you to safeguard your family’s financial well-being in your absence. Tata AIA Life Insurance offers a wide range of life insurance plans that help you secure your dreams and take care of your family’s financial future. You can choose from:

• Term Insurance

• Life Insurance Savings Plans

• Unit Linked Insurance Plans

• Retirement Solutions

Get in touch with our insurance experts today to find the best plan for your needs and effectively safeguard yourself and your loved ones.