Réflexions sur les perspectives de mortalité

Abstract

Observations on projections of mortality rates. The rapid increase in life expectancy in recent years has produced optimism among specialists and upward revision of projections. Yet future mortality rates could be significantly affected by a certain number of risk factors relating in particular to the younger generations and increasing among other things stress-producing situations; in the same way drastic changes in family lifestyle are bringing about an increase in cases of breakdown affecting social segments which are characterized by higher mortality rates. For this reason the increase in average life expectancy is perhaps not inevitable even if the great risk undoubtedly lies more in the widening gap in the mortality rates in relation with the polarisation of society.