<Author>Michael</Author>
<Topic></Topic>
<Nationality>USA</Nationality>
The chart shows an optimum age of 80 years, which is rarely achieved widely in the world. Still, as populations age, more and more people are reaching what is called in some countries the third stage of life. In the most developed countries, the average life expectancy may be about 65 for men and about 67 for women. The chart shows the number rising between 1960 and 1990. Unfortunately, in Russia since the early 1990's, the life expectancy has been lowered for men by 10 years to about 55 and for women to about 57. In Africa, because of HIV/AIDS and other fatal diseases, the life expectancy in much of the area south of the Sahara Desert has dropped to about 47 years in the last several years. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the chart shows 250 deaths per 1000births, which is at about the highest level of personal tragedy, as it occurs in such African countries as Gambia, Niger, and Gabon. The chart shows that infant deaths per 1000 in developing countries have declined from the highest numbers.
It is true that in some developing countries, conditions for an increased life expectancy and a decline in infant deaths have improved. A third measurement of a developing country's well being is the rising level of literacy in the country. As the world becomes more globalized, ideally, all of these conditions will continue to develop positively. Unfortunately, as the world increases more and more in population, an increased life expectancy, a decline in infant deaths, and greater literacy, such gains may he elusive and perhaps even an illusion.