The average life expectancy of most people in biblical times was most likely in the 20s due to disease, malnutrition, traumatic childbirth for women and almost constant warfare for men. According to the estate-planning firm E.F. Moody, life-expectancy figures remained virtually unchanged for most of human history. In ancient Greece, for example, life expectancy was 20. When the Declaration of Independence was signed, life expectancy was still just 23; the median age was 16. Even as recently as 1900, most Americans died by age 47. In 1870, only 2.5 percent of all Americans made it to age 65. It’s no wonder that, until relatively recently, retirement was a word mostly associated with going to bed — and hoping one would wake up. (For more information, see the sidebar on page 27.)
Data for 1997 says that life expectancy has climbed to 76.5 years, up from 59.2 in 1930. This number continues to climb. Many of the first baby boomers (those born in 1946) who are beginning their retirement this year may have as much as 20 years or more of living still ahead. If, as some spry retirees claim, 65 is the new 55, then the old paradigm of retirement meaning a move to Florida and eating dinner at 4 p.m. is being blown up by an emerging generation of super seniors who would seem to prefer starting a second career to playing shuffleboard. Retiring boomers will embrace the philosophy about which boomer icon Neil Young once sang — “it’s better to burn out than it is to rust out.”
On faceboo, a friend wrote
ReplyDeleteThose ancient averages change a lot when you factor out infant mortality, slavery, war, sanitation and a few other changes unrelated to adult health and longevity. Look at the ages of the founding fathers of the US. Of the six most famous astronomers in ancient Greece, all but one lived into their 70s and 80s. When you look at averages you need to know what is being averaged. Ancient people who live like us live to about the same age.
Another friend on facebook said:
ReplyDeleteand now, with St. Arbucks on a nearby corner, we can live better while we live longer, Kevin.
I responded to the first friend:
ReplyDeleteTrue, Kevin, taking care of "basics" in the way that modern life has done has quickly increased life expectancy. Your statement is a little confusing, though. "If it weren't for the snow in Indiana, winter would be great.." If one takes out all the factors you mentioned, you have the improvements that democracy and science have brought since around the 1400's.
Kevin responded:
ReplyDeleteIt's the "spry retirees" and "super seniors" that I take issue with. When "average life expectancy in the 20's" makes us think that Biblical 30 somethings were Old folks (which most people today translate as frail) I think that we get the wrong idea. Maybe it's just me. I guess I would like for it to read, "average life expectancy in Biblical times was in the 20's because most people died in the prime of life." I'm no doubt splitting hairs.