Extreme longevity in five countries: presentation of trends with special attention to issues of data quality

• Published in: European journal of population Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 63
• Main Authors: Wilmoth, J R, Lundstrom, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01.03.1996
• Subjects: Americas; Asia; Demography; Developed Countries; England; Europe; Far East; France; Japan; Longevity; Mortality; North America; Population; Population Dynamics; Research Design; Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; Statistics as Topic; Sweden; United Kingdom; United States; Wales; Comparative Studies; Measurement; Americas; Death Rate; United States; Wales; England; Research Methodology; North America; Scandinavia; Error Sources; Age Specific Death Rate > changes; Sweden; Tables And Charts; Length Of Life; Population; Eastern Asia; France; Demographic Factors; Northern Europe; Europe; Japan; Mortality; United Kingdom; Mediterranean Countries; Western Europe; Studies; Northern America; Developed Countries; Asia; Population Dynamics
• ISSN: 0168-6577
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01797166

"Data on the maximum age at death and other indicators of extreme longevity are assembled for five countries (Sweden, England & Wales, France, Japan, and the United States) over various time periods. The raw data are shown in both graphical and tabular formats. Two types of measures are presented: the extreme ages at death reported for a given year (i.e., the maximum, second, third, and fourth highest), and the upper percentiles of the age distribution of deaths by year. The analysis demonstrates that the upper tail of the age distribution of deaths has moved steadily higher over a period of at least 130 years in Sweden. Similar trends are observed (over shorter time periods) for other countries, although in many cases it is argued that the raw data are flawed due to misstatement (in particular, exaggeration) of age at death." (SUMMARY IN FRE)