How do changes in womens life expectancies impact disability rates?
The average life expectancy for women has increased markedly in the past century, from 48.3 years in 1900 to 78.9 years in 1991. As shown below, the increase in life expectancy for older women has been especially dramatic in the second half of the century. In 1900, people who were 50 years old rarely lived to the age of 90. Even in 1950, only 10% of 50 year-old women could expect to survive to the age of 90. However, by 1990, nearly one-quarter of 50-year-old women could expect to live to the age of 90.
