What does life expectancy refer to?

Life expectancy refers to the average number of years that members of a population are expected to live, based on statistical analyses of mortality rates within that particular population. This concept encompasses various factors that influence longevity, including health care access, lifestyle choices, socioeconomic status, and environmental conditions.

Understanding life expectancy allows researchers and policymakers to gauge the overall health of a population and identify trends related to aging, health disparities, and the effectiveness of public health initiatives. It provides a broader view of population health rather than concentrating solely on individual ages or potential maximal age limits that could theoretically exist. By focusing on the average lifespan, it captures the influences of different factors affecting longevity, making it a critical metric in public health and demographic studies.