The word "longevity" is sometimes used as a synonym for "life
expectancy" in demography. However, the term longevity is sometimes
meant to refer only to especially long-lived members of a population,
whereas life expectancy is always defined statistically as the average
number of years remaining at a given age. For example, a population's
life expectancy at birth is the same as the average age at death for
all people born in the same year (in the case of cohorts). Longevity
is best thought of as a term for general audiences meaning 'typical
length of life' and specific statistical definitions should be
clarified when necessary.Reflections on longevity have usually gone
beyond acknowledging the brevity of human life and have included
thinking about methods to extend life. Longevity has been a topic not
only for the scientific community but also for writers of travel,
science fiction, and utopian novels.There are many difficulties in
authenticating the longest human life span ever by modern verification
standards, owing to inaccurate or incomplete birth statistics.
Fiction, legend, and folklore have proposed or claimed life spans in
the past or future vastly longer than those verified by modern
standards, and longevity narratives and unverified longevity claims
frequently speak of their existence in the present.A life annuity is a
form of longevity insurance.
expectancy" in demography. However, the term longevity is sometimes
meant to refer only to especially long-lived members of a population,
whereas life expectancy is always defined statistically as the average
number of years remaining at a given age. For example, a population's
life expectancy at birth is the same as the average age at death for
all people born in the same year (in the case of cohorts). Longevity
is best thought of as a term for general audiences meaning 'typical
length of life' and specific statistical definitions should be
clarified when necessary.Reflections on longevity have usually gone
beyond acknowledging the brevity of human life and have included
thinking about methods to extend life. Longevity has been a topic not
only for the scientific community but also for writers of travel,
science fiction, and utopian novels.There are many difficulties in
authenticating the longest human life span ever by modern verification
standards, owing to inaccurate or incomplete birth statistics.
Fiction, legend, and folklore have proposed or claimed life spans in
the past or future vastly longer than those verified by modern
standards, and longevity narratives and unverified longevity claims
frequently speak of their existence in the present.A life annuity is a
form of longevity insurance.
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