Data Writing Task – Diego Robles

Figure 1 illustrates United Nations data relating to changes in Life expectancy at birth
(years) for all continents and the whole world since 1975, and it shows predictions until 2050.
The data reveals that all continents and the world shared an increase in life expectancy over
the past 40 years. Globally, life span rose by about 10 years between 1975-1980 and 2010-
2015, and is predicted to increase steadily to around 75 in 2045-2050. Some continents such
as North America, Oceania, and Latin America and the Caribbean have presented the same
pattern of gradual increase since 1975, and Asia's growth trend has been very close and
similar to the world trend in the same period. Europe and Africa presented a different pattern.
Life expectancy increased slightly in the first decade, before it fell and remained stable until
the beginning of the 21st century. Since 2000-2005 lifespan at birth in these continents has
been increasing. In the 21st century, on all continents and world, life expectancy will continue
to increase gradually. Despite the overall increase, large inequalities persist between the
poorest and richest regions of the world. The expectation of life in Africa will be 60 years in
2045-2050, compared to 85 years in North America.

The general increase in life expectancy at birth in the world could be explained by
two reasons. The first is medical innovation. It seems that the medicines have achieved
significant progress in the health levels of the population, extending lifespan and improving
prevention and treatment of the diseases that cause mortality, such as HIV/AIDS and other
infectious diseases. Secondly, higher consumption of good quality food and access to clean
water, in the case of Africa. A sufficient diet may decrease the risk of obesity, cancer,
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and many other health problems that increase mortality.
Meanwhile, the slight decrease in life expectancy observed in Europe and Africa in the 1990s
could be caused by the presence of catastrophic events such as wars, civil wars in Yugoslavia
and Somalia respectively.