As we plan for retirement, we tend to think about how long we might actually live in the future. It could be 20, 25, 30 or more years (after 65) to budget for in your golden years.
Significant factors determining longevity include lifestyle, gender, genetics, health care, exercise, nutrition and the environment. Where you live, family support and income are also important factors.
Key lifestyle behaviors include getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, being physically active, maintaining a healthy body weight, not smoking and limiting alcohol.
What is the Average Life Expectancy?
The average life expectancy for a 65-year-old American is now 18 more years on average for men. And, women can expect to live around 21 more years. That means that — according to the Social Security Administration — the average 65 year old man will live until 83 and the average woman will live until almost 86. But at least half of us will live even longer — a lot longer. (source: New Retirement)
A review of close relatives in the family tree is a good indicator of potential longevity.
How long did your grandparents live?
- John Knight, my paternal grandfather in Mexico lived to 83; while my Irish American grandmother, Margaret Kenny, died at 66 of pneumonia.
- Jerry Janda, my maternal grandfather in Texas lived to 76; while my Czech American grandmother, Agnes Dolezal, lived with Alzheimer’s disease until age 89.
Note that all these deaths were disease related and I think that half were preventable.
Is there longevity in the family?
The longest lived female relative reached 106 years old.
- Lillie Marie Kallus (1912-2019) – Age 106. Lillie retired from The Fayette County Record newspaper after 57 years of service – the longest of anyone on staff. She also served as a principal and school teacher in La Grange, Texas. (Lillie Kallus Sulak was my 3rd cousin 2x removed)
The longest lived male relatives hit 103 years old.
- Roderick Knight (1911–2015) – 103 years old, lived in British Columbia, Canada where he was a carpenter, boat builder, resort owner, and avid sailor. (Rod was my 2nd cousin 2x removed)
- Henry Kubala (1895-1998) – 103 years old, A farmer and avid musician, born in Schulenburg, Texas. (Henry was my 1st cousin 3x removed)
Several relatives lived into their 90s
- Peter Kenny (1873-1970) – 97 years old, A factory worker in New Jersey who grew up on a farm in Ireland. Great-grandfather “Pop” was one of the oldest NY Mets fans. He watched the “Miracle Mets” win the 1969 World Series.
- August Janda (1882-1972) – 90 years old, A farmer in a Czech community of Hostyn, Texas. Great-grandfather ran the family farm into his 80s and had an old Ford Model-T in his barn.
Still going strong…
- Uncle Johnny Knight in Spain was running his auto engineering business into his early 90s.
- Great-uncle David Knight is still sharp and sharing family stories at age 97.
Explore longevity in the family…
Long Live the Knights! – Paternal relatives
Long Live the Hopes! – English relatives in Liverpool and London
Long live the Czechs! – Maternal relatives
DNA Painter Fan Chart – Age at Death
Note that the life expectancy at birth for the white population of the United States was 35-40 years old in the 1800s. It reached 47 years in 1900, 68 years in 1950, and by 2019 it had risen to nearly 79 years.
How Long Will You Live?
An American who retires at 65 can expect to live to 85, according to Social Security projections.
Most people know that the average American lives to an age between 75 and 80. Less well known, apparently, is that life expectancy rises with age. At age 60, an American man can expect to reach 82; a woman, 85. (source: The Hill)
Find out how long you’ll live.
Try out a popular longevity tool, based on gender, age, height, weight, life events, fitness, exercise, plus smoking and drinking behavior.
Find out your customized life expectancy based on 400,000 NIH data samples and a short quiz about your lifestyle.
This longevity calculator is based on a detailed statistical analysis of NIH-AARP data and conducted by Wharton professor Dean Foster.
Live long and prosper
While countless studies show how exercise, meditation, and a nutritious diet strengthen the brain, emerging evidence shows making space for art produces similar results.
Doing an art activity for just 20 minutes can help you live longer.
“Eight hours of sleep is good. Science is now telling us that 20 minutes a day of some art activity is equally as good,” Ross says. “You should add that to your daily diet.” (Fortune, Oct 2023)
Read more about adding art to your routine
Just for Fun
In 2023, WikiTree Featured Connections for notables of 99 years, starting with Bob Barker (1923-2023), legendary host of “The Price is Right.”
- 21 degrees from Robert Barker
- 24 degrees from Ellen Fairclough
- 23 degrees from Zsa Zsa Gabor
- 22 degrees from Lillian Gish
- 23 degrees from William Graham
- 21 degrees from Daniel Jewett
- 14 degrees from Philip Mountbatten
- 21 degrees from Maria Von Trapp
- 22 degrees from Betty White
- 21 degrees from John Wooden
Note: Degrees indicates how closely the person is related to me.
References
Life expectancy: females versus males, 2021 – Our World in Data
Why do women live longer than men?
Predictors of Exceptional Longevity: Effects of Early-Life Childhood Conditions, Midlife Environment and Parental Characteristics. Living 100 Monogr. 2014; 2014: 1–18.
From the historical research: “General predictors common for men and women are paternal and maternal longevity. Gender-specific predictors of male longevity are the farmer occupation at age 40, Northeastern region of birth in the United States and birth in the second half of year. A gender-specific predictor of female longevity is surprisingly the availability of radio in the household according to the 1930 U.S. census.”
Decennial Life Tables for the White Population of the United States, 1790–1900
Life Expectancy
10 Best Life Expectancy Calculators
LifeSpan Calculator from Northwestern Mutual – 13 questions
How Long Will I Live? – customized life expectancy from Blueprint Income
Retirees are underestimating how long they will live | The Hill July 2023
Life expectancy: females versus males, 2021 – Our World in Data
Draft Oct 2023
Knight Family of Seattle 