Everything Everywhere Daily Human Life Expectancy
Jan 12, 2024
Explore the evolution of human life expectancies over time, from the Paleolithic Age to present day. Discover the impact of agriculture, violence, and disease on life expectancy. Learn about advancements in medicine, vaccines, and improvements in working conditions that have led to increased life expectancy. Find out how energy usage and standards of living have contributed to longer lifespans in developing countries.
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Life Expectancy vs Lifespan Difference
- Life expectancy of 25-30 years in Paleolithic times mostly reflected high child mortality, not short adult life.
- Adults surviving childhood could often live into their 40s or 50s, but reaching old age was unlikely.
High Violence in Ancient Times
- Homicide rates in Paleolithic societies were alarmingly high, sometimes over 50%, disrupting the myth of peaceful hunter-gatherers.
- Violence was a major cause of death, contrasting sharply with modern global homicide rates below 1%.
Agriculture Didn't Boost Life Expectancy
- The shift to agriculture and civilization didn't increase life expectancy but changed threats from starvation to crop failures and from tribal to organized warfare.
- Settled life boosted childhood diseases and epidemics due to proximity and trade, keeping life expectancy low around 30 years.