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life expectancy

Definition

How long a given person is expected to live; useful for insurance premium calculations. Average life expectancy can also be calculated for categories of people, such as all females, or all citizens of a certain country. To calculate average life expectancy, a wide variety of characteristics can be looked at, including gender, country of residence, family medical history, and many lifestyle habits including smoking, drinking, eating, exercise, and sleep patterns.

Featured Tip

Too Short of a Time HorizonIf you are saving for retirement 30 years hence, what the stock market does this year or next shouldn't be the biggest concern. Even if you are just entering retirement at age 70, your life expectancy ... Read more