What is the Difference Between Lifespan and Life Expectancy?

The terms "lifespan" and "life expectancy" are related to the number of living years, but they define different concepts:

• Lifespan refers to the maximum number of years an individual can live. For humans, the lifespan is currently between 120 and 125 years. For example, the oldest woman in the world lived to over 122 years old.
• Life Expectancy is the estimate or average number of years a person can expect to live based on the year they were born, their current age, and various demographic factors, including gender. It is always statistically defined as the average number of years of life remaining at a given age. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global life expectancy at birth in 2015 was 73.8 years for females and 69.1 years for males.

In summary, lifespan represents the maximum number of years a person can live, while life expectancy is an estimate of the average number of years a person can expect to live based on various factors.

Comparative Table: Lifespan vs Life Expectancy

Lifespan and life expectancy are two terms that are related to the duration of human life, but they have distinct meanings and uses. Here is a table that highlights the differences between lifespan and life expectancy:

In summary, lifespan is the actual number of years that a person or organism lives, while life expectancy is the average number of years that a person is expected to live based on their age, gender, and other demographic factors. Life expectancy is calculated using life tables, which take into account mortality rates and other factors to estimate the average time someone is expected to live.