GDG- Foote

[John Baniszewski]

john: Without appearing to dimwitted, if that's possible, 
wouldn't the death rate from the war itself skew the 
averages for that generation?

Yes it would, but not by as much as you would think.  
Although the number of deaths in the Civil War was 
horrific, statistically they represented app. 2% of
the population, so impact on life expectancy of the entire
country is watered down.

I could not find data for the US, but the following gives 
life expectancy in Sweden in the 1860's, as well
as today.  The biggest factor in the longer life expectancy
of people today versus 1860 is infant mortality rate.

 
       As of age   0   50   65                           1861-1870                   Years to live             43              19              10        Age at death             43              69              75                            2006                   Years to live             79              30              18        Age at death             79              80              83    
I once asked someone in the Census Bureau what impact the Civil War had
on total US population - would it be much higher today had the war not
occurred.  She answered not by much, because the number of deaths among women is the most important factor.

John Baniszewski





John Baniszewski