Trends in female lifespan in South Korea, 1987-2016

Abstract

South Korea shows a remarkable rapid increase in lifespan in recent decades. Employing a mathematical model that is appropriate for human survival curves, we evaluate current trends in female lifespan for South Korea over three recent decades, 1987-2016, and predict coming trends in female lifespan until 2030. From comparative analyses with industrialized countries such as Japan, France, Australia, Switzerland, UK, Sweden, and USA, we confirm that South Korea has the highest increase rate of female lifespan in recent decades, and estimate that maximum lifespan would reach 125 years and characteristic life would surpass 95 years for South Korean female by 2030. South Korea would deserve much attention in study on human health and longevity as the longest-lived country in coming decades.