Babies Will See Their 80s

For the first time, the average Canadian baby can expect to see their 80s according to Statistics Canada. The study was based on mortality rates across the country and reported that the combined life expectancy of both boys and girls reached 80.2 years in 2004, up from 79.9 years in 2003. But did not reveal what factors may be behind the improvement. Nor do the figures apply to people old enough to read this. "If you were born in 2004, you can expect to live 80.2 years," says Shiang Ying Dai, a senior analyst in the health statistics division.

Girls are still expected to outlive boys, but the gap in 2004 (about 4.8 years) was the narrowestit has been in the past 25 years! The male life expectancy was 77.8 years (up 21 weeks from 2003). Female life expectancy is 82.6 years (up 10 weeks from 2003).

In the 25 years between 1979 and 2004, the male life expectancy rose 6.4 years while! While the female life expectancy rose 3.8 years girls are still living longer than their counterparts. Figures for 2005 are not yet available.