elinaikäkäyrä

Elinaikäkäyrä, a Finnish term translating to "life expectancy curve," is a graphical representation illustrating the survival probabilities of individuals within a population over time. It is a key tool in demography and actuarial science for understanding mortality patterns. The curve typically plots age on the horizontal axis and the proportion of survivors (or probability of surviving) on the vertical axis.

The shape of an elinaikäkäyrä provides insights into the health and living conditions of a population. In developed countries, these curves tend to be rectangular or "rectangularized," meaning that a large proportion of individuals survive to old age before experiencing a sharp increase in mortality. This contrasts with less developed regions where the curve might be more diagonal, indicating higher mortality rates at younger ages and a more gradual decline in survival.

Factors influencing the shape of an elinaikäkäyrä include public health initiatives, access to healthcare, lifestyle choices, environmental conditions, and socioeconomic status. Changes in these factors over time can lead to shifts in the curve, reflecting improvements or declines in life expectancy. The elinaikäkäyrä is crucial for planning social security systems, pension funds, and healthcare services, as it helps in forecasting future population structures and associated needs.