Average Life Expectancy over 100 to Come within 60 Years

Those who are currently younger than 40 years old may enjoy `average lifespan over 100`.

Britain’s BBC reported on the 9th that as people’s average lifespan is extending increasingly, `average life expectancy over 100` is to become possible within 60 years. BBC also quoted experts that although there is no prospect of immortality, average life expectancy is surprisingly soaring.

“There is no sign there is a natural limit, as some experts had predicted. Centenarians, 100 year-olds, will become unexceptional within the lifetimes of people alive today,” said Jim Oeppen, from Cambridge University, U.K., and Dr. James Vaupel, from the Max Plank Institute for Demography, Germany.

Researchers explained, “Life expectancy has been increasing for 3 months every year since 1840. If such trend continues, people living in countries with high life expectancy, like Japan, will live up to the age of 100 in 60 years.”

The current average life expectancy around the world is 65 for men and 70 for women, which is twice longer than 200 years ago.

Jung-Ahn Kim credo@donga.com