Determinants of national life expectancy

This paper presents a multivariate cross-national analysis of life expectancy at birth in 1990. A model of life expectancy is used which distinguishes between proximate and distal determinants, and measures the direct and indirect effects of the distal variables. It is found that literacy, per capita income, and access to safe water supplies have significantly positive effects on life expectancy. Fertility and tropical location have significant negative effects, and per capita food consumption of animal products shows an inverted-Cr relationship with life expectancy. Per capita health expenditure and the urbanization rate appear to be weak determinants.