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In 1997, average life expectancy at birth reached 68.91 for men and 76.73 for women. A slight increase in the average life expectancy results from a positive trends observed in a baby death rate. Comparing to the rest of Europe on average life expectancy of Slovak population is lower (men by 6-7 years , women by 4-5 years).
World wide analyses carried out to date have shown that the impact
of environmental pollution on human health is not significant. This
fact has also been confirmed in Slovak conditions. Life expectancy of mail
population in 3 most polluted districts (Bratislava - city, Košice - city
and Prievidza) was the highest in the whole Slovakia. On the Slovak territory
in general we can observe considerable differences in a life expectancy.
The difference can be as high as 6 years between individual districts of
Slovakia.
Average life expectancy at birth - female population - in Slovak districts
(1993-1995)
Source: ŠÚ SR |
Average life expectancy at birth - male population - in Slovak districts
(1993-1995)
Source: ŠÚ SR |
The shortest life expectancy is recorded in districts with low percentage of male population with university or high school education background, on the contrary with high percentage of male population with only basic school education. The mentioned phenomena points out to a direct link between life expectancy and differences in life-style.
Short life expectancy of Slovak population is caused mainly by high death rate of middle-age population group. In 1997, according to the statistics for the Slovak Republic, 52 124 men and women died. In 3 quarters of cases diseases of cardiovascular system and cancer are to blame. Other categories of diseases namely diseases of respiratory tract, alimentary tract, urinary system and reproductive system as well as outside causes of death contributed to the total death-rate by less than one quarter.
Basic factors influencing the death-rate of Slovak population
Source: ÚPKM
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Source: ÚPKM
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Statistically, the highest long-term death-rate among Slovak population is that caused by circulatory system diseases. In 1997, 28.5 thousand of patients died of this cause. As for age group and gender, male population is most severely affected in the age group of 70-79 years. Comparatively, the most severely affected age group among female population appears to be that of 70-89 years. From diseases included in this category, heart attack and cerebrovascular diseases are the prevalent cause of death. The second most frequent cause of death occurring among Slovak population is cancer and tumours, momentarily showing an increasing trend. In 1997, 1.3 thousand of people died of these causes. The most affected age groups are:
The male population death rate is most obvious in groups between 65-84 years of age. As for female population, it is the group of 75 years of age and more. The typical death causing diseases are chronic pneumonia and influenza.
Causes of death in 1997
Source:
ŠÚ SR
In statistics, rather than the total death rate comprising death in all age groups, indicator showing premature death (0-64 year interval) is more significant. In Central Europe, premature cardiovascular deaths serving also as the principal indicator of the total death-rate which has been dependent on the societal-political organisation since the second half of 1960-ties. In democratic societies (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), the cardiovascular diseases death rate was showing a continual decrease. On the contrary, in geographically close countries of Central Europe (Hungary, Poland, the former Czechoslovakia) it showed a steady, significant growth. The trend in premature oncological diseases deaths was also unfavourable. Differences in prematurely occurred death caused by widespread diseases continue to exist in the Central region to these days.
In the long-term prospect, positive trends in baby death rate were observed, in percentage almost reaching the level common for developed countries. In 1997, 514 babies died before reaching their first year. In comparison to 1996 this number is lower by 101 cases. The similar statistics in 1993 showed 525 more deaths in this category. Before reaching 28 days of their life, 321 babies died as compared to 415 in 1996.
Public health – selected indicators
| Indicator |
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Life expectancy
at birth
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67.56
76.22 |
68.35
76.66 |
68.34
76.48 |
68.4
76.3 |
68.8
76.6 |
68.91
76.73 |
| Live-births per 1 thousand inhabitants | 14.1 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.5 | 11.2 | 11.0 |
| Dead before reaching 1st year of age per one thousand live births | 12.6 | 10.4 | 11.2 | 11.0 | 10.2 | 8.7 |
| Baby death rate | 8.4 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.9 | 6.9 | 5.4 |
| Deaths in total | 53 432 | 52 707 | 51 386 | 52 686 | 51 236 | 52 124 |
| Deaths per one thousand inhabitants | 10.0 | 9.9 | 9.6 | 9.8 | 9.5 | 9.7 |