Editing Life expectancy (section)

===Economic circumstances===
{{See also|Preston curve}}
[[File:Life expectancy vs healthcare spending.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Life expectancy vs healthcare spending of rich OECD countries. [[List of countries by total health expenditure per capita|US average of $10,447 in 2018]].<ref name=life>{{cite journal|url=https://ourworldindata.org/the-link-between-life-expectancy-and-health-spending-us-focus|title=Link between health spending and life expectancy: US is an outlier|date=26 May 2017|vauthors=Roser M|author-link1=Max Roser|journal=[[Our World in Data]]}} Click the sources tab under the chart for info on the countries, healthcare expenditures, and data sources. See the later version of the chart [https://ourworldindata.org/us-life-expectancy-low here].</ref>]]
Economic circumstances also affect life expectancy. For example, in the United Kingdom, life expectancy in the wealthiest and richest areas is several years higher than in the poorest areas. This may reflect factors such as diet and lifestyle, as well as access to medical care. It may also reflect a selective effect: people with chronic life-threatening illnesses are less likely to become wealthy or to reside in affluent areas.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Department of Health|location=UK|url=http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4117696&chk=OXFbWI|title=Tackling health inequalities: Status report on the Programme for Action|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205110912/http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4117696&chk=OXFbWI|archive-date=5 February 2007}}</ref> In [[Glasgow]], the disparity is [[Glasgow effect|amongst the highest in the world]]: life expectancy for males in the heavily deprived [[Calton, Glasgow|Calton]] area stands at 54, which is 28 years less than in the affluent area of [[Lenzie]], which is only {{Convert|8|km|mi|abbr=on}} away.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7584056.stm#Life%20expectancy|title=Social factors key to ill health|date=28 August 2008|publisher=BBC News|access-date=28 August 2008}}</ref><ref name="WHO">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7584450.stm|title=GP explains life expectancy gap|date=28 August 2008|publisher=BBC News|access-date=28 August 2008}}</ref>

A study published in the [[American Geriatrics Society]] found that the average life expectancy of the Chinese emperors (which have much wealth) from the first Qin Dynasty (221–207 BC) to the last Qing Dynasty, was 41.3 years. This is much lower than that of the Buddhist monks (66.9 years) traditional Chinese doctors (75.1 years) and the emperors' servant, who survived to 71.3 years (range 55–94), during the same time.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zhao |first1=Hai-Lu |last2=Zhu |first2=Xun |last3=Sui |first3=Yi |title=THE SHORT-LIVED CHINESE EMPERORS |journal=Geriatrics Healthcare Professionals |date=2 August 2006 |volume=54 |issue=8 |doi=10.1111/j.1532-5415.2006.00821.x |url=https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2006.00821.x |access-date=12 May 2025}}</ref>

A 2013 study found a pronounced relationship between [[economic inequality]] and life expectancy.<ref name=WaPoLifespan>{{cite news|vauthors=Fletcher MA|title=Research ties economic inequality to gap in life expectancy|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/research-ties-economic-inequality-to-gap-in-life-expectancy/2013/03/10/c7a323c4-7094-11e2-8b8d-e0b59a1b8e2a_story.html|access-date=23 March 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=10 March 2013}}</ref> However, in contrast, a study by José A. Tapia Granados and [[Ana Diez-Roux|Ana Diez Roux]] at the [[University of Michigan]] found that life expectancy actually ''increased'' during the [[Great Depression]], and during recessions and depressions in general.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=University of Michigan|work=ScienceDaily|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090928172530.htm|title=Did The Great Depression Have A Silver Lining? Life Expectancy Increased By 6.2 Years|date=29 September 2009|access-date=3 April 2011}}</ref> The authors suggest that when people are working at a more extreme degree during prosperous economic times, they undergo more [[stress (biology)|stress]], exposure to [[pollution]], and the likelihood of injury among other longevity-limiting factors.

Life expectancy is also likely to be affected by exposure to high levels of [[roadway air dispersion model|highway air pollution]] or industrial [[air pollution]]. This is one way that occupation can have a major effect on life expectancy. Coal miners (and in prior generations, asbestos cutters) often have lower life expectancies than average. Other factors affecting an individual's life expectancy are genetic disorders, drug use, [[tobacco smoking]], excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, access to health care, diet, and exercise.