THE PHENOMENON OF LONGEVITY IN THE STRUCTURE OF GLOBAL POPULATION
Authors:   Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University, Novosibirsk, Russia, Goroshko Nadezhda ,   Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russia, Patsala Sergey ,   Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University, Novosibirsk, Russia
Published: December 2023

Significance. One of the main features of the demographic picture of the modern world is the population aging, which is becoming one of the most significant factors of the current and future socio-economic and cultural agenda of the global development. Despite the fact that the population aging is accompanied by increased life expectancy, reaching the age of ninety and over is yet a rare phenomenon. Identification of the factors determining the level of longevity remains an important medical and social objective. An important role here plays the understanding of spatio-temporal features of the longevity, which provide the basis for identifying and analyzing factors that can shed light on the causes of this phenomenon. The purpose of the study is to assess spatio–temporal features of the global longevity. Material and methods. The information base of the study was data of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, as well as scientific publications in periodical information sources. The study used general logical, analytical, statistical and cartographic methods. Results. At the turn of the XX–XXI centuries, there was a rapid increase in the number of long-livers on the planet. If in 1950 the share of people aged 90 and over equaled to 0.05% of the world population, by 2020 it added up to 0.27%, having increased almost six-fold. According to moderate projections of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 0.79% of the world population will survive until ninety and over by 2050, and 2.14% - by 2100. In the 1950-2020 timeframe, all macro-regions of the world show a positive trend in the share of population aged 90+. The increase in the share of long-livers is especially noticeable in Europe, North America and Oceania (Australia). Against this background the indicator the increase in Africa is less pronounced. The phenomenon of longevity is spatially represented rather heterogeneously, and clearly correlates with the country socio-economic status, and, as a consequence, with the population reproduction trends characteristic of this status. Longevity is most pronounced in the countries of the so-called "rich North" ("golden billion"). Of the "top ten" countries in terms of the share of population aged 90+, eight countries represent the European Union. Japan tops the list of the leading countries (1.88%). Russia ranks 37 with the long-liver share adding up to 0.53%. In the 1950-2020 timeframe, the increased longevity index was registered in all macro-regions of the planet. It has highly increased in the North America countries, Europe and Oceania. A relatively low increase in the longevity index was registered in Asia and Africa. At the country level, today, the maximum longevity index is registered in Japan, Uruguay and European countries. The global Top-10 includes 8 European countries, with France, Spain and Italy taking the lead. African countries remain the traditional outsiders. Longevity is determined by a complex set of hereditary factors and environmental conditions. According to experts, out of factors that determine life expectancy, heredity accounts for 15-20%, while other factors account for 75-80% including lifestyle, environment and habits. There is a relationship between the quality of life that includes physical (activity, daily activity, ability to perform activities of daily living), mental, emotional and social well-being of the individual, and life expectancy. The level of economic development can be considered as one of the predictors of longevity. Over the past seventy years, the maximum increase in the share of long-livers has been registered in the "golden billion" countries where the current number of people over 90 has reached 1% of the population, and is projected to increase up to 4-5%.by the end of the century. Genetics, constancy of the internal and external environment factors, quality of life, healthy diet, physical activity, regular work, and sense of purpose of one's own life and value-based attitude to life are important factors that determine the longevity level.