Helsinki-Conference on Gerontechnology

Twice as many years as our ancestors: and the concept of a life plan

Keynote address by Arthur E. Imhof


The development of our lifespan budget in the 20th century ("yesterday" = around 1900 with an average life expectancy of about 50 years; "today" = around 1980 with about 70 years; and "tomorrow" = around 2000/2020 with about 80 years). Most significant ist the absolute as well as the relative increase in leisure time.

Source: CD-ROM Historical Demography (1995), Fig. 93.