Differences in life expectancy within countries are as important as international comparisons
In this issue of the MJA, Lopez and Adair describe slowing of the growth in life expectancy in Australia.1 They report that we reached our peak position in the world around 2003 (fourth highest for men, fifth highest for women), but increases in life expectancy over the past decade have been modest, and our international ranking is expected to fall.
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- 9. Jagger C. Trends in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. Mar 2015. London: Foresight, Government Office for Science. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/464275/gs-15-13-future-ageing-trends-life-expectancy-er12.pdf (viewed Mar 2019).
- 10. World Bank. Life expectancy at birth, total (years). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN (viewed Mar 2019).
- 11. Indexmundi. Health expenditure, private (% of GDP). https://www.indexmundi.com/facts/indicators/SH.XPD.PRIV.ZS/compare?country=cu#country=cu:us (viewed Apr 2019).
- 12. National Health and Medical Research Council. Acting on Australia's weight: a strategic plan for the prevention of overweight and obesity. Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council, 1997. Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20070106043145/https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/n21syn.htm (viewed Mar 2019).
- 13. Chau J, Chey T, Burks‐Young S, et al. Trends in prevalence of leisure time physical activity and inactivity: results from Australian National Health Surveys 1989 to 2011. Aust N Z J Public Health 2017; 41: 617–624.
- 14. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Deaths in Australia. Canberra: AIHW, 2018. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-death/deaths-in-australia/contents/life-expectancy (viewed Mar 2019).
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