Livstiden

Livstiden is a term used in Scandinavian languages, most commonly Norwegian and Danish, to refer to the duration of a living being’s life. The word is built from liv (life) and tiden (the time), conveying the full span from birth to death. In everyday usage it denotes the concept of one’s life length without implying medical or statistical measurement.

In scientific and formal contexts, more specialized terms such as lifespan, life expectancy, or aging trajectories are typically employed. Lifespan usually refers to the maximum length of life possible for a species or individual, while life expectancy describes the average age a newborn is expected to reach given current mortality rates. Livstiden, when used, often appears as a general or literary expression rather than a technical category.

Culturally and philosophically, livstiden can function as a metaphor for the stages and experiences of a person’s life, or for the duration of a historical period, a project, or an era. In literature, poetry, and media, it may symbolize the fragility and temporality of existence or the arc of personal development.

See also: lifespan, life expectancy, life course, mortality, aging. References to livstiden as a distinct scientific term are limited; the concept is usually discussed under broader topics of life duration and aging.