AUSTRALIA: National life expectancy heads to 90 years

PERTH (The West Australian), July 25, 2008: Australia’s expanding life expectancy is predicted to break the 90s barrier for the first time by 2060, according to research released yesterday. The Federal Department of Health and Ageing study shows a woman born in 2060 will, on average, live to 90 — more than six years older than an Australian woman born today. And centenarians are the fastest growing age segment, the department study found. Their numbers have risen by 8.5 per cent a year over the past 25 years. There are 2,860 Australians over the age of 100. That is forecast to rise to 78,000 by 2055. The findings were presented at a conference on ageing in Melbourne. If the research is right, it will mean life spans have increased by a third in little more than 150 years. A woman born at the time of Federation could have expected to reach 58.8 years, while a man’s life span was 55.2 years. The gap between male and female life spans is also predicted to narrow. In 1901-10, Australian women lived 7 per cent longer than men. The difference currently is 6 per cent. It will be 5 per cent by 2050. Minister for Aging Justine Elliott said:“This is wonderful news and can be attributed to healthy lifestyles and medical advances in Australia.” WA females are already live the longest in Australia. Females born in Perth, the Great Southern, Midlands and South-West regions can expect to reach an average age of 84. CANBERRA ANDREW TILLETT West Australian Newspapers Pty Ltd 2008.