HOW MANY YEARS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF AMERICANS? (аялау и 40 30 1900 1970 Life expectancy at birth, both sexes Life expectancy for Americans increased 7 years between 1943 and 1967 -- from 63.3 years in 1943 to an estimated 70.2 years in 1968. Since 1900, life expectancy has increased 21 years. The median age at death has increased 7.3 years from 63 years in 1943 to 70.3 years in 1968. These added years of life, as well as the reduction in disabilities achieved through medical research advances, are certainly a major factor in the increase in our gross national product, which has quadrupled since 1945 from $211.9 billion in 1945 to $860.6 billion in 1968. (3) Medical advances are based on medical research breakthroughs supported by the voluntary health agencies, the National Institutes of Health of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and the pharmaceutical industry. *-estimated; no detailed breakdown available as yet. Source: Vital Statistics Division, Nat'l Center for Health Statistics, |