Life expectancy of average Brazilian up 12.4 years from 1980 to 2013

Life expectancy at birth among Brazilians increased by 12.4 years from 1980 to 2013—62.5 to 74.9—according to a report entitled Brazil's Complete Table for Mortality 2013, released today (Dec 1) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

During this period, life expectancy among women rose more significantly than it did among men: 65.7 years in 1980 to 78.6 in 2013—a surge of 12.9 years. For men, the increase observed was 11.7 years, going from 59.6 to 71.3.

IBGE researcher Fernando Albuquerque argues that Brazilians' increased longevity may be primarily accounted for by a reduction in child mortality and the lower number of deaths among people over 70 years old. These two age groups were reported to experience the most considerable rises in the period under analysis.

A baby's chance of dying before turning one year old dropped from 69.1 per 1,000 babies in 1980 to 15 in 2013. According to IBGE, this decline may be put down to improvements in sanitation, the larger scope of vaccination campaigns, prenatal and maternal care programs, as well as government measures like the cash transfer initiatives Bolsa Família (Family Allowance).

The probability of a 70-year-old dying at this age fell from 47.5 per every 1,000 individuals to 25.2. Among the factors that contributed to this scenario are advances in medicine and technology and projects targeting the older part of the population, like the rural retirement.

On the other hand, the 15-19 age group was the one that saw the least significant contraction in mortality in the period. Among men aged 17 to 18, it remains exactly as it was in 1980. “In this group, mortality hasn't changed—and that exclusively because of deaths by violent causes, especially traffic accidents and homicides,” he said.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira