Life Expectancy - Regions

This dataset provides regional data on on life expectancy at birth, for large regions (TL2) and small regions (TL3) when available.

Data definition and source

Life expectancy at birth is defined as how long, on average, a newborn can expect to live, if current death rates do not change. However, the actual age-specific death rate of any particular birth cohort cannot be known in advance. If rates fall (or rise), actual life expectancy will be higher (or lower) than the life expectancy calculated on the basis of current mortality rates. Data is collected from Eurostat (reg_dem) for EU countries and via delegates of the OECD Working Party on Territorial Indicators (WPTI), as well as from national statistical offices' websites.

Definition of regions

Regions are subnational units below national boundaries. OECD countries have two regional levels: large regions (territorial level 2 or TL2) and small regions (territorial level 3 or TL3). The OECD regions are presented in the OECD Territorial grid (pdf) and in the OECD Territorial correspondence table (xlsx).

Territorial typologies

Small TL3 regions are categorized based on shared characteristics into regional typologies. See the demographic indicators aggregated by territorial typology at country level on the access to City typology (link) and by urban-rural typology (link).

Cite this dataset

OECD Regions and Cities databases http://oe.cd/geostats

Further information

• The interactive web-tool OECD Regions and Cities Statistical Atlas
• The report OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance

Contact: RegionStat@oecd.org