Life tables calculate the number of years a person is expected to live given that they have already reached a certain age. For example, a girl born in 2011 is expected to reach age 82.8, however someone who was 60 years old already in 2011 was expected to live a further 25.2 years, that is until that are 85. A newborn boy was expected to live to 40.2 in 1841, compared to 79.0 in 2011, whereas a baby girl was expected to live to 42.2 in 1841 and 82.8 in 2011. The low life expectancies of the 19th century can be explained by the higher number of infant deaths. Survival past the first year of life was historically a predominant factor in life expectancies and once a child had reached five years of age, he or she was much more likely to reach a greater age. Whereas a newborn boy was expected to live to age 40.2 in 1841, a one-year-old boy in that same year had a life expectancy of 46.7 years - 6.6 years higher than a newborn.

As well as men's working conditions being a factor, the widening gap can be explained by the decline in tuberculosis (TB). Deaths from the disease, which had been rife in the 17th and 18th centuries, and affected women more than men, had begun to decline in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Historically infant deaths were a major factor in life expectancies Average age expected to reach by current age, males, England and Wales, 1841 to 2011. Embed this interactive Copy This graph compares the average age a male is expected to reach according to their current age. It highlights the increase in life expectancy at birth since the 19th century. Although it shows only males, females show a similar pattern. In the 1840s around 15% of babies died before their first birthday compared with 0.4% in 2011, demonstrating the vast improvements made in reducing infant mortality. The additional life expectancy of a one-year-old compared with a newborn continued to increase from 1841 to 1891; at its peak there was a difference of 8.1 years for boys and 6.8 years for girls.

This may have been due to the fact that it was not a legal requirement to register births until 1874, so data prior to this may have been less accurate (Births and Deaths Act 1874). There has been a steady decline since the early 20th century, because of the improvements in public hygiene, childhood immunisations and the creation of the NHS (1948). Females have consistently had a higher life expectancy than males.but the gap in 2011 is almost twice what it was in 1841 Female life expectancy at birth was 3.8 years higher than for men in 2011, compared to 2.0 years in 1841. This smaller gap in the mid-19th century was in part due to diseases and high infant mortality that affected men and women indiscriminately.

Difference in male and female life expectancy at birth, England, 1841 to 2010-12. Embed this interactive Copy In the late 18th and early 19th centuries the gap between male and female life expectancies began to slowly widen, peaking at 6.3 in 1971. It has been narrowing since, due to faster improvements in mortality for men than for women. As well as men's working conditions being a factor, the widening gap can be explained by the decline in tuberculosis (TB). Deaths from the disease, which had been rife in the 17th and 18th centuries, and affected women more than men, had begun to decline in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the 20th century more women were surviving childbirth and were having fewer children, reducing their risk of dying in labour.

Since the 1970s, men have been catching women up in terms of survival. The decline of the mining industry and the move away from physical labour and manufacturing industries towards the is a likely cause, along with a reduction in the proportion of men. Life expectancy at older ages continues to increase meaning our pensions need to last longer Life expectancy at age 65, England and Wales, 1841 to 2011. Embed this interactive Copy The life expectancy of a woman aged 65 in 1841 was 11.5 years and reached 20.9 years in 2011. Ultimate mortal kombat 3 hack zeus edition mame arcade rom star.