In 2013, life expectancy at birth in Brazil was 74.9 years (74 years, 10 months and 24 days), an increase of 3 months and 25 days in relation to 2012 (74.6 years). The increase was of 3 months and 29 days for the male population, changing from 71.0 years in 2012 to 71.3 years in 2013. The gain was a bit smaller for women (3 months and 14 days), changing from 78.3 years to 78.6 years. Infant mortality rate (up to 1 year of age) stayed at 15 per thousand live births in 2013 and child mortality rate (up to 5 years of age), at 17.4 per thousand.

This information is available in the Complete Mortality Tables 2013, which includes life expectancies of exact ages up to 80 years. This information is used by the Ministry of Social Security as one of the parameters to calculate the social security factor for retirement pensions under the General Social Security System. The complete survey can be accessed on page https://www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/populacao/tabuadevida/2013/default.shtm

By registering 78.1 years, Santa Catarina was the Federation Unit with the highest life expectancy at birth for both sexes in 2013. Santa Catarina was also the state with the highest life expectancy for men (74.7 years) and for women (81.4 years). The states of Espírito Santo, Federal District, São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul, whose women surpassed the 80-year barrier, joined Santa Catarina. Concerning infant mortality, the highest rate was reported in Maranhão (24.7 per thousand live births), and the lowest in Santa Catarina (10.1 per thousand). Child mortality also recorded the highest score in Maranhão (28.2 per thousand) and the lowest in Santa Catarina (11.8 per thousand). By way of comparison, it should be highlighted that life expectancy at birth in Japan was about 83 years for both sexes, infant mortality was two deaths per thousand live births and child mortality was three per thousand.

Between 2012 and 2013, life expectancy increased in all the ages, particularly in the first ranges of the distribution, with emphasis on those younger than 1 year and more intensively in the male population.

Between 2012 and 2013, female mortality also decreased within the fertile period (between 15 and 49 years of age). In 2012, from each hundred thousand live births, 98,105 would begin the reproductive period and, among them, 93,568 would complete it. As for 2013, from each hundred thousand live births, 98,176 would reach 15 years of age and, among them, 93,743 would reach 50 years.

The adult phase (between 15 and 59 years) also benefited  from the decline in the mortality levels. In 2012, from a thousand persons that would reach 15 years, about 848 would complete 60 years. As for 2013, from a thousand persons aged 15 years, 852 would reach 60 years, i.e., four lives were saved per thousand persons within this age bracket.

Male over-mortality is higher among youngsters

The higher mortality of the male population in relation to the female´s could be noticed since birth. The probability of a male newly-born not completing the first year of life was 16.3 per thousand live births. As to women, this value was 13.7 per thousand, a difference of 2.6 deaths. As a result, infant mortality for boys was 1.2 higher than for girls.

Between 1 and 2 years of age, this value changed to 1.3 times, maintaining this level up to 9 years.                             Above this age, mortality increased and reached its maximum value between 22 and 23 years: a 22-year old man had 4.6 more chances of not reaching 23 years than a woman. After that, mortality decreased as the age increased. 

Life expectancy in Brazil increases 12.4 years between 1980 and 2013

In 1980, life expectancy at birth in Brazil was 62.5 years for both sexes, a difference of 12.4 years in relation to 2013. Along 33 years, life expectancy at birth in Brazil increased annually, on average, 4 months and 13 days. The gain registered in this period was bigger for women (12.9 years) than for men (11.7 years). The difference between sexes had also been increasing in this period: in 1980, the difference between men´s and women´s life expectancies was 6.1 years more for women. In 2013, it was 7.3 years. 

Close to 70.0 per thousand live births in 1980, infant mortality rate was estimated at 15.0 per thousand in 2013, representing a drop of 78.3% in deaths of those aged less than 1 year. By declining 79.3% and changing from 84.0 per thousand in 1980 to 17.4 per thousand in 2013, child mortality reported the same behavior.

The mortality of Brazilian youngsters (between 15 and 24 years) also decreased along these 33 years, though very distinctively depending on the sex. In 1980, from each thousand male youngsters who reached 15 years, about 23 would not complete 25 years. In 2013, such proportion was 22 per thousand, a decline of 7.5% in the period. As to women, the decline was of 56.5%: in 1980, from each thousand youngsters aged 15 years, about 12 would not complete 25 years; in 2013, the proportion was five deaths per thousand. Such phenomenon could be explained by the highest incidence of deaths due to violent causes in the male population.

In the age bracket between 25 and 60 years, mortality declined significantly for both sexes. In 1980, from each thousand individuals who reached 25 years, about 236 would not reach 60 years. In 2013, this proportion was about 137 per thousand, representing a drop of 42.2%.

The Brazilian population has been aging quickly, due to the decline of both fertility and mortality. This last variable directly influenced the longevity of Brazilians. In 1980, from each thousand persons who reached 60 years, 656 would not reach 80 years. In 2013, from a thousand persons aged 60 years, 427 would not complete 80 years, representing less 229 deaths. Life expectancy at 60 years, which was 16.4 years in 1980, changed to 21.8 years in 2013, an increase of 33.0%. In 2013, A 60-year old Brazilian would live, on average, up to 81.8 years, being 79.9 years the average for men and 83.5 years for women.