The Report on Concise Life Chart for Taiwan Area in 1999

The Report on Abridged Life Tables for Taiwan-Fuchien Area in 1999

I. Preface

The Abridged Life Tables 1999 was compiled based upon domicile registration (household registry) data. The number of deceased persons in different ages, the number of population by ages and the number of persons born (by year/month of age) were used as reference according to "administration areas", "statistic areas", male, female, and both genders for 5-year age group. From 1992, the Abridged Life Tables also covered Kinmen and Matsu Area.

II. An analysis on the results of compilation

1. Life expectancy at birth

(1) In 1999, the life expectancy at birth (average remaining years of life at birth) for both genders was 75.04 years old. For male, it was 72.46 years old. For female, it was 78.12 years old. When compared to 1998, there was an increase by 0.21 year for both genders, an increase by 0.26 year for male and an increase by 0.16 year for female. The difference in life expectancy at birth of male and female was 5.66 years. There was a decrease by 0.10 year when compared to the difference in 1998 (which was 5.76 years). In 1999, a severe earthquake struck Taiwan (the most severe earthquake in Taiwan over the past 100 years). If the number of persons deceased in Chi-Chi earthquake on September 21 and the number of persons deceased in Chiayi earthquake on October 22 (in 1999) had been deducted (2,415 persons in total), the life expectancy at birth for both genders was 75.33 years. The life expectancy at birth was 72.72 years for male and 78.46 years for female. Thus, because of the death caused by the earthquakes in 1999, the life expectancy at birth of both genders was decreased by 0.29 year. The life expectancy at birth for male was decreased by 0.26 year and for female, it was decreased by 0.34 year.

(2) The life expectancy at birth in various administrative areas

Taipei Municipality had highest life expectancy at birth for both genders, which was 78.76 years. Kaohsiung Municipality had the second highest life expectancy at birth, which was 74.91 years. In Taiwan Province, it was 74.51 years (which was lower). Taipei Municipality had the highest life expectancy at birth for male, which was 76.84 years. Taiwan Province had a lower life expectancy at birth for male, which was 71.52 years. Taipei Municipality had the highest life expectancy at birth for female, which was 81.55 years. Kaohsiung Municipality had the second highest life expectancy at birth for female, which was 77.65 years. In terms of five major cities and 16 counties in Taiwan Province, the life expectancy at birth for male in the five major cities was 73.14 years. For female, it was 78.28 years. The above two numbers were higher than those of the 16 counties by 1.76 years and 0.71 year.

(3) Life expectancy at birth in various statistics areas

In terms of life expectancy at birth in the northern, central, southern and eastern Taiwan Area, the northern Taiwan Area had the highest life expectancy at birth. The life expectancy at birth for both genders was 76.30 years. The life expectancy at birth was 74.41 years for male and 79.09 years for female. Central Taiwan Area had the second highest life expectancy at birth. The life expectancy at birth for both genders was 74.10 years. The life expectancy at birth was 71.30 years for male and 77.38 years for female. Southern Taiwan Area had the third highest life expectancy at birth. The life expectancy at birth was 73.99 years for both genders, 71.14 years for male and 77.18 for female. Eastern Taiwan Area had a lower life expectancy at birth. The life expectancy at birth was 70.53 years for both genders, 66.90 years for male and 75.16 years for female. However, in recent years, there has been a greater increase in life expectancy at birth in eastern Taiwan Area as compared to other regions, no matter in terms of both genders, male or female.

(4) The changes in life expectancy at birth for past 8 years

From 1992 to 1999, the life expectancy at birth in Taiwan-Fuchien Area increased from 74.26 years to be 75.04 years for both genders (an increase by 0.78 year), from 71.78 years to be 72.46 years (an increase by 0.68 year) for male and from 77.19 years to be 78.12 years (an increase by 0.93 year) for female. In Taiwan Province, the life expectancy at birth increased from 71.19 years to be 71.52 years (an increase by 0.33 year) for male, and from 76.76 years to be 77.81 years (an increase by 1.05 years) for female. In Taipei Municipality, the life expectancy at birth increased from 75.95 years to be 76.84 years (an increase by 0.89 year) for male and from 80.54 years to be 81.55 years (an increase by 1.01 years) for female. In Kaohsiung Municipality, the life expectancy at birth increased from 72.00 years to be 72.76 years (an increase by 0.76 year) for male and from 76.86 years to be 77.65 years (an increase by 0.79 year) for female. It shows that there have been improvements in Taiwan-Fuchien Area for the past 8 years in terms of medical science, medicine technology, sanitation, social welfare and recreational facilities. The percentage of elderly persons over 65 years has been increasing over the years. The pace of improvement in metropolitan areas was far faster than non-metropolitan areas. As a result, the death rate of residents in metropolitan areas was lower than residents of non-metropolitan areas. The life expectancy at birth of residents in Taipei Municipality, Kaohsiung Municipality was higher than that of residents of Taiwan Province. For the past 8 years, as a whole, there has been a gradual increase in life expectancy at birth of residents of Taiwan-Fuchien Area and various regions. The effect of National Health Insurance enforced since 1995 has started to show and reflect on the prolonged life expectancy at birth.

(5) Comparison with other countries

A comparison was made between the life expectancy at birth in Taiwan-Fuchien Area for 1999 with that of major countries of the world. In terms of nearby Asian countries, Taiwan's life expectancy at birth was higher than Korea, Malaysia, Philippines but lower than Japan and Singapore. Japan remained to be country with highest life expectancy at birth in the world, which was 77 years for male and 84 years for female. Taiwan's life expectancy at birth was 5 years less than that of Japan in terms of male and 6 years less than that of Japan in terms of female. It showed that there was still a significant difference in life expectancy at birth of two countries. With regards to comparison with major western countries, Taiwan's life expectancy for male was 1 year less than that of Germany and Taiwan's life expectancy at birth for male was 2 to 3 years less than U.S., U.K., France and Canada. In terms of life expectancy at birth for female, Taiwan was 1 year less than that of U.S., 2 years less than U.K. and Germany, and 4 years less than Canada and France.

II. Probability of dying at birth

"The Enforcement Rules of Children Welfare Law" were revised in 1994. According to the revised rules, "the medical staff assisting in delivery of babies should report the birth data to the local government institutions in charge of domicile registration (household registry) and health care within 10 days from the day following the birth". If the medical staff failed to make such a reporting within the prescribed period, the institution for household registry should make the registration directly 1 month later. Thus, after the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) and Department of Health (of Executive Yuan) jointly formed and enforced the reporting system for infant birth, there was less and less omission or delayed reporting for infant birth. Thus, the probability of dying at birth of Taiwan's would no longer be underestimated and the probability of dying at birth could be reasonably reflected.

(1) In 1999, the probability of dying at birth in Taiwan-Fuchien Area was 0.676% for both genders, 0.743% for male and 0.604% for female. As compared to 1998, there was a decrease by 0.019% for both genders, a decrease by 0.018% for male and a decrease by 0.018% for female.

(2) The probability of dying at birth in various administrative regions

Kaohsiung Municipality had a lower probability of dying at birth, which was 0.547%. Taipei Municipality's probability of dying at birth was 0.578% and the probability of dying at birth in Taiwan Province was 0.7% (which was higher). In terms of male persons, Taipei Municipality had a lower probability of dying at birth, which was 0.599%. The probability of dying at birth of Taiwan Province was 0.769% (which was higher). In terms of female persons, Kaohsiung Municipality had a lower probability of dying at birth, which was 0.412%. The probability of dying at birth of Taiwan Province was higher (0.624%). As compared to 1998, there was an increase by 0.004% in the probability of dying at birth of Kaohsiung Municipality for male. There was a decrease by 0.111% in the probability of dying at birth of Taipei Municipality for male. There was a decrease by 0.005% in the probability of dying at birth of Taiwan Province for male. There was a decrease by 0.067% in the probability of dying at birth of Kaohsiung Municipality for female. There was an increase by 0.052% in the probability of dying at birth of Taipei Municipality for female. There was a decrease by 0.024% in the probability of dying at birth of Taiwan Province for female.

(3) The probability of dying at birth in various statistic areas

Northern Taiwan Area had a lower probability of dying at birth in terms of both genders. The probability of dying at birth was 0.627%. The probability of dying at birth in central Taiwan Area was 0.724%. The probability of dying at birth in southern Taiwan Area was 0.685%. The probability of dying at birth in eastern Taiwan Area was 0.856% (which was the highest). Northern Taiwan Area had a lower probability of dying at birth in terms of male. The probability of dying at birth was 0.659%. The probability of dying at birth in eastern Taiwan Area was 0.855% (which was higher). Southern Taiwan Area had a lower probability of dying at birth in terms of female. The probability of dying at birth was 0.57%. The probability of dying at birth in eastern Taiwan Area was 0.858% (which was higher). As compared to 1998, there was an increase in the probability of dying at birth for both genders in central Taiwan Area by 0.030%. There was an increase in the probability of dying at birth in central Taiwan Area for male by 0.059% and 0.001% for female. This was caused by the death of Infants in the earthquake on September 21, 1999, striking central Taiwan Area. In eastern Taiwan Area, the number of deceased Infants in 1999 was 71 persons. Among them, there were 37 male and 34 female. In 1998, the number of death of infants was 111 persons. There were 51 male and 60 female. Thus, there were decreases in the number of death by 36.04% for genders, a decrease by 27.45% for male and a decrease by 43.33% for female. The above reflected that the probability of dying at birth fluctuated greatly because there was less data in this aspect for eastern Taiwan Area. As compared to 1998, there were a decrease by 0.411% for both genders, a decrease by 0.3% for male and 0.614% for female.

III. Conclusions

The percentage of elderly population has been increasing due to Taiwan’s rapid economic growth, improvements in citizens’ life and living quality, the government’s various social welfare services and social insurance programs and the enhanced medical / health care facilities. The life expectancy at birth of people in Taiwan-Fuchien Area has been prolonged. In addition, Taiwan-Fuchien Area enforced National Health Insurance Program since 1995. People have been receiving good medical care due to the health program and the effect of National Health Insurance Program has gradually reflected on the prolonged life expectancy at birth. For the past 8 years, the life expectancy at birth for female in Taiwan-Fuchien Area increased from 77.19 years in 1992 to be 78.12 years in 1999. There was an increase by 0.93 year. The life expectancy at birth for male increased from 71.78 years to be 72.46 years. There was an increase by 0.68 year. Female had a greater increase in life expectancy at birth than male.

In 1999, severe earthquakes struck Taiwan on September 21 at Chi Chi and on October 22 at Chiayi. The earthquakes directly caused the death of 2,415 persons. The life expectancy at birth of Taiwan-Fuchien Area people was thus reduced by 0.29 year for both genders, by 0.26 year for male and by 0.34 year for female. The loss was great. Thus, people should be more cautious and taking more preventive measures against natural disaster.

In summary, in Taiwan-Fuchien Area the life expectancy at birth for female was higher than male. The life expectancy at birth in Taipei Municipality, or Kaohsiung Municipality was higher than Taiwan Province. The average life expectancy in the five major cities (of Taiwan Province) was higher than the 16 counties. In terms of Taiwan’s various regions, the life expectancy at birth in northern Taiwan Area was higher than central Taiwan Area. The life expectancy at birth in central Taiwan Area was higher than southern Taiwan Area. Eastern Taiwan Area had the lowest life expectancy at birth. Thus, there obviously was a difference between urban areas and countryside, or among various regions. The government should endeavor to gain a balance for development of different regions, to even out the problem of unbalanced resource distribution, to upgrade the medical/sanitation quality for remote areas, to shorten the distance between urban areas and countryside, and thus to improve the living environment and living quality.