Infant mortality fell 8.6% in relation to 2000 and was estimated in 27.5 deaths of children younger than one year old over a thousand live births. Deaths by external causes held back the rise in life expectancy, which grew 0.8 in relation to that of 2000.

In 2003, the life expectancy estimated at birth in Brazil, for both sexes, rose to 71.3 years. It was a 0.8-year increase in relation to 2000 (70.5 years). But this indicator's level could have been 2 or 3 years higher if it had not been for the premature violent deaths of youngsters. In a certain period of time, Brazil posted declines in the mortality rates for all age groups. But, since mid 1980s, deaths by external causes (violence) have played an important (unfavorable) role in the age structure of the mortality rates, particularly of young men.

Considering that in Japan, average life expectancy is superior to 81 years, life expectancy in Brazil (71 years) is still relatively low. And, according to the most recent mortality projection, only nearly 2040 would Brazil be reaching the 80-year pattern of life expectancy at birth. (See www.ibge.gov.br under Population / Complete Mortality Tables). Life expectancy at birth of 71.3 years places Brazil at 86th position in the UN ranking, considering the estimates for 192 countries or areas in the 2000-2005 period (World Population Prospects: The 2002 Revision; 2003).

Between 1980 and 2003, life expectancy at birth, in Brazil, rose to 8.8 years: up 7.9 years for men and 9.5 for women. In 1980, a 60-year-old person would have on average more 16.4 years to live, totaling 76.4 years. Twenty-three years later, an individual in the same situation would reach, on average, 80.6 years old. At the age of 60, the differences by sex are not as high as they are at birth: in 2003, a 60-year-old man would still live 19.1 years, whereas a woman would have more 22.1 years of age.

Infant mortality shrinks 8.6% in relation to 2000

In 2003, infant mortality rate was estimated at 27.5%, which represented a reduction of 8.6% in the 2000-2003 period. Between 1980 and 2003 and between 1991 and 2003, the drops were, respectively, 60.2% and 39.0%.

Mortality has been decreasing in Brazil as a result of several public health policies implemented in the Country. Firstly, starting in the second half of the 1940s, due to antibiotics against infectious diseases. More recently, several actions (not only governmental ones) were introduced with the purpose of reducing infant mortality in Brazil: mass vaccination campaigns, prenatal care, breastfeeding, health agents in the communities; among others.

Infant mortality in Brazil, nearly 27 deaths of children younger than 1 over each thousand live births, in 2003, is still high, considering the corresponding rate in the Southern Cone countries, for instance. However, the drop is undeniable. In the 1970s, the rate was near 100 over a thousand live births.

Life table can help Public Health assessment

The complete life table of the Brazilian population, estimated by IBGE for the year 2003 is a demographic model which describes the incidence of mortality by ages and numerically summarizes the general health conditions of a population. The life table is an important instrument to assess public policies on Health.

Life tables comprise the following information: a) mortality rates or death probability between two exact ages — particularly, infant mortality, which is the probability of a newborn die before the fist year of life or the number of deaths of children younger than one year out of every 1000 live births; b) the life expectancy at exact ages, especially life expectancy at birth, which expresses the average number of years  a newborn would live if it were exposed to the death risks estimated on such life table.

History

The 1940 Population Census was the first big population survey allowing the measurement of the prevailing mortality level in Brazil. Although innovating, the information of the 1940 Census only allowed the estimate of infant mortality rates and not the mortality rates of the other age groups – base of the construction of life tables. In order to calculate those rates, it is necessary to have data on deaths within a year or a period of time – extracted from the vital statistics of the Civil Registry – as well as data on the population by sex or both sexes – from the Population Census.

Brazil has a notable experience with population censuses – the first one was accomplished in 1872 – but the vital statistics of individuals were only introduced in 1974, when IBGE started to collect information about births and deaths occured in the national territory using the Civil Registry Offices. This way, the first life table created by IBGE representing the Brazilian population dates from 1980, year of the populational census, which happens every ten years.

Nowadays, Brazil has three life tables by IBGE: 1980's, 1991's and 2000's. The tables for the other years are a result of a model of a population projection based on known information. When a new table is inserted in the set, it is necessary to revise the model.

Social security factor uses IBGE's life table

Besides several uses, not only in Demography, but also in other Social Sciences, the yearly life table released by IBGE has been used by the Ministry of Social Security – MPS, since 1999. In order to set, with other parameters, the so-called social security factor, the life table helps calculating the retirement pension of persons under the Social Security System;

The Presidential Decree no 3266 of November 29th, 1999 confers jurisdiction and sets a periodicity to the publication of the complete life table pursuant to paragraph 8 of Article 29, of Law no 8213, of July 24th 1991, as last amended by Law no 9876, of November 26th, 1999.

In 1999, IBGE had two life tables, 1980’s and 1991’s, and a mortality projection, implicit in the overall model of population projection. The indicators related to life expectancy and infant mortality, for example, were always largely disseminated to several means: Ministries, technical and academic institutions, at federal, state and municipal level, international organisms, non-governmental organizations, press, among others.

In compliance with Decree-Law no 3266, since 1999 IBGE has released the complete life table of the previous year for both sexes of the Brazilian population on the Official Gazette.

By the end of 2003, all the information from the 2000 Population Census was provided and disclosed to society, including the data that allowed to estimate mortality in the first year of life. That was the moment to compare the life table projected for the year 2000 with the table estimated based on census information and death statistics from the Civil Registry between 1999-2001. Thus, there was evidence that the decrease of deaths in the first year of life and among elder people was sharper than the one projected, so that life expectancies at exact ages were higher than the ones projected for 2000.

With the life tables of 1980, 1991 and 2000, it was possible to reassess the projection of mortality in Brazil and, as a consequence, the projection of the Brazilian polulation, whose 2004's Review was disclosed on August 30, 2004, following the same  methodological criteria consolidated at IBGE. In demographic studies and analysis,  projection reviews – aimed at improving prospective data accuracy through the incorporation of new information – are necessary and recommended. The life tables are numerical overviews of the health conditions of a population in certain periods of time. They are, therefore, society goods. IBGE is responsible for drawing this picture as accurately as possible.

Metodologically, there was not any change in the process of construction and projection of the life table. IBGE shall create another life table using the results of the next Population Census, in 2010, and compare the resulting table with the current projection.

¹ THE FEDERAL PRESIDENT,  in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Article 84, subparagraph IV, of the Constitution, and in compliance with  paragraph 8 of Article 29 of Law 8213, of July 24, 1991, as amended by Law 9876, on November 26, 1999 enacts:

Article 1. For the purposes of the paragraph 7 of Article 29, of Law no 8213, of July 24, 1991, as amended by Law  no 9876, of November 26, 1999, the  survival expectancy of the contributor at retirement age will be obtained through the  complete life table for the Brazilian population designed by IBGE, considering the single national average for both sexes.

Article 2. It is incumbent on IBGE to publish, yearly, on the first working day of December, on the Official Gazette, the complete life table of the previous year for the Brazilian population overall.

Sole paragraph. Within 15 days after the publication of this decree, IBGE shall release the complete life table of 1998.

Article 3. This Decree shall enter into force on the date of its publication.

Brasília, November 29, 1999; 178 of Independency and 111 of Republic.

Fernando Henrique Cardoso

Waldeck Ornélas

Martus Tavares