Genealogy: The Importance of Deaths and Life Expectancy

On the increase in life expectancy

A Decline in Life Expectancy?

It is common knowledge, and you have surely noticed during your research, that life expectancy and thus the age at death has greatly increased over the centuries. Today, however, it tends to slow down, even decrease, particularly in the United States. 

Here is a chart from INED, the National Institute of Demographic Studies. It presents the evolution of life expectancy at birth in France, from 1740 to 2020. It is clear that this evolution is increasing, but also the impact that many events can have on it. While wars have a very negative impact on this curve, other factors have a positive impact, for example the vaccination against smallpox at the beginning of the 19th century which allows a significant decrease in infant mortality (1 in 3 in 1710, 1 in six 100 years later). 

When opening the decennial tables to browse the deaths of the 1900s, you will see that while it was not uncommon to exceed forty, life expectancy was still only 45 years. 

Although it will be marked by numerous declines due to successive wars, the 20th century is, thanks to technological and medical advances, a period of significant increase. The 50-year mark is quickly surpassed, and although the 60-year mark only occurs after World War II, the 70-year mark follows quickly. Moreover, infant mortality sees a very significant decrease, with only 5% of children dying before the age of one. This increase in life expectancy in the 20th century can be summarized in one figure: 65%. This is its progress from 1900 to 2000. Today, life expectancy in France is 79.4 years for men and 85.4 years for women. 

The Impact of War on Life Expectancy 

War has a strong impact on demographics and has greatly slowed the growth of life expectancy in France. Indeed, soldiers die young, and at an age when they could have children, which leads to a decrease in birth rates and an aging of the population. One only needs to consult a military registration record to see many soldiers who died in combat before their 30s. Moreover, the living conditions associated with wars cause this slowdown: rationing, famine, poor sanitary conditions...

Today, we can still find examples to illustrate the impact of wars: according to a study in the medical journal The Lancet Global Health, the Syrian conflict has reduced life expectancy in that country by 6 years.