Life Expectancy of Canadians

The official 1990-92 detailed life tables show a continuation of the trend toward longer life expectancy for Canadians (see Life tables). Life expectancy at birth has reached an all-time high: 80.89 years for females and 74.55 years for males.1 Recent improvements in life expectancy are attributable to many factors, including declines in infant mortality, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease, and mortality from accidents and poisoning.2-6 Women outlive men From 1951 to 1981, the rate of increase in females ’ life expectancy at birth outpaced the rate for males (Chart 1).1,7 Girls born in 1951 were expected to live about 4.5 years longer than boy