PARIS: By 2030 life expectancy for South Korean women could top nine decades, an average lifespan long thought to be out of reach, researchers said Wednesday. “As recently as the turn of the century, many researchers believed that life expectancy would never surpass 90 years,” said lead author Majid Ezzati, a professor at Imperial College London. Among 35 well-off countries examined, life expectancy was predicted to increase across the board over the next 15 years. In 2015, the five countries with the lowest life expectancy — ranging from 50 to less than 55 years for men and women — were all in sub-Saharan Africa. Outside periods of war or famine, life expectancy in wealthy nations has risen almost continuously since the 19th century, from roughly 50 to 80 years.

Source: Manila Times February 21, 2017 23:48 UTC