Key indicators 2004 – 5 Average life expectancy (analysed between men and women)

Key indicators 2004

5
Average life expectancy (analysed between men and women)

Source: Statistics Denmark

This indicator illustrates aspects of the state of health in Denmark. The average life expectancy of Danish men went up from 70.3 years in 1960 to 74.9 years in 2003. The average life expectancy of women rose from 74.1 years in 1960 to 79.5 years in 2003. Men added 2 years to their average life expectancy from 1995 to 2003, while the corresponding increase for women was 1.4 years. Over the last eight years, the average life expectancy has increased as much as it did during the preceding 21 years.

Both men and women are living considerably longer

The increase has been so great that in 2000, the average life expectancy of Danish men corresponded to the target figure for 2004. In 2000, women's life expectancy was as high as the 2002 target figure. Only three other EU Member States have experienced greater increases in the average life expectancy since 1995.