8A.2 - Variations in health and life expectancy

• Africa


  • Countries north of the Sahara have the highest life expectancy in Aftica, Morocco has the highest of 76.51 and Chad has the lowest of 49.44
• Democratic Republic of Congo


  • Rich in natural resources - $24 trillion
  • Years of brutal conflict - 6 million deaths
  • 70% below poverty line
  • Average GDP per capita - $800 - third lowest in the world
  • 40% children under 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition
  • 40% children 5-14 forced to work
  • Average life expectancy - 56 years
• Algeria


  • GDP per capita increased 30% (1980-2024)
  • Life expectancy increased 16.6 years (to 76) (1980-2024)
  • HDI rose from 0.574 to 0.736 (1980-2024)
  • Low literacy rates
  • 23% still below poverty line
• HDI variations


  • HDI value can vary between developing countries due to;
  • Civil wars
  • Resource exploitation
  • GDP
  • For example, DRC's GDP per capita is $800, Algeria's is $5000
• The developed world


  • Variations in life expectancy, lifestyle
  • Levels of deprivation
  • Availability, cost and effectiveness of medical care
  • Cost of living
• The Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development


  • 35 nations
  • Promotes policies to improve economic and social wellbeing
  • Average life expectancy increased 5.1 years
  • Women's 5 years more than men
  • Highest education levels live 6 years longer than the lowest
  • Sharp decline in infant mortality
  • Key factors - health spending, economic factors, reduced smoking, calorific intake
  • Cardiovascular disease reduced massively, remains leading cause of death
• Determinants


  • Wider determinants - occupation, education, income, housing, etc
  • Lifestyle factors - smoking, diet, alcohol, etc
  • Determinants influence each other:
  • Within categories - low educational achievement can influence employment
  • Between categories - high-income earners have healthier diets
• Life expectancy


  • UK - lowest in western Scotland, southern Wales, highest in the South East
  • Australia - lowest in north, 75-80, highest in cities, such as Melbourne and Sydney
• Variations in the developed world


  • Smoking, obesity and income
  • Death rates attributed to preventable causes significantly higher in Northern English regions
  • Spending on healthy food is lower in Northern England
  • Australia - women in NSW and ALT 84 years, 79 in Northern Territory
  • Main reason - Northern Territory is home to many ATSI's who have lower LEs than non-indigenous