Patterns and Evolution of Life Span Inequality Using the Gini Coefficient

Abstract

Using the mortality database from the World Health Organization(WHO), this study analyzes the patterns and evolution of life expectancy and inter-individual life span inequality in South Korea for the period 1990-2011. This study also investigates life expectancy and inter-individual lifetime disparity patterns across OECD countries. The data indicate that South Korea showed a remarkable increase in life expectancy while life span inequality, measured by Gini coefficients, dropped significantly over the past 20 years. This study also observes a similar negative association between life expectancy and life disparity among other OECD countries. In terms of relative performance in life expectancy and length of life inequality, South Korea outperformed most OECD countries over the past 20 years (especially, female). However, a further decline in life span inequality may slow down in the future since age patterns of mortality in South Korea follow those of low-mortality countries such as Japan.