Life Expectancy During the Victorian Age

Introduction

Ever wonder what the life expectancy was during the Victorian Era? Yeah, me neither but you are going to learn about it so enjoy. This is a GREAT opportunity to learn so listen up.

Task

To get ready for your special assignment you and your group members must have solid skills in reading and interpreting text. You will learn about the life expectancy during the Victorian Era and why it was this way. Afterwards you all will be taking a short quiz to ensure that you actually gained something from the presentation.

Process

During 1800’s the life expectancy in cities averaged between 25 and 30 years, but in rural areas like Colton it was higher at around 41 years. The influencing factors for better health were money, environment (air, water, sanitation) and diet. Although people in Colton would not have been a wealthy, as the majority were agricultural labourers and servants, they would have had access to more fresh fruit and vegetables and the low population in Colton would have meant less problems with sanitation.

Table of life expectancy in Victorian times
Class Manchester Rutland London Colton
Gentry / Professional 38 52 45
Tradesmen / Farmers 20 41 27
Labourers / Servants 25 43 22
Averages 25 43 30 41

 As expected the occurrence of death in Colton was higher in winter, however during July the death rate always increased. This could have been due to an increase in disease from inadequate food and water storage during the hotter months. These factors combined with possible malnutrition from reduced food availability in the winter and spring and fresh fruit and vegetables not yet in season would have resulted in a lower resistance to disease which would have led to an increase in the number of deaths. Yet compared with towns Colton was a much healthier place to live.

Image: graph showing the deaths in each month of year

Image: graph showing age of death in Colton in 19th century

Nationally over three quarters of deaths occurred in children under the age of 5. The average infant mortality in the mid 1800’s was one child in every three. Colton’s infant mortality was much lower at an average of one child in every six.

Table of infant mortaility in Victorian times
Class Manchester Rutland Average
Gentry / Professional 1:3 1:4 1:5
Tradesmen / Farmers 1:2 1:3 1:2.5
Labourers / Servants 1:2 1:3 1:2
National average 1:3 Colton average 1:6
Evaluation

Make sure you have answered each question with a full and complete sentence. When you have done so make sure each member of the group has their name on the paper and turn it in to us.

 

 

Name__________________________

 Life Expectancy in the Victorian Era 

1.       What was the average age of death during 1800s?

2.       Why did people live such short lives during this era?

3.       Which places had a longer life expectancy?

4.       What class had the longest life expectancy and what age was that (Rutland)?

5.       What things do you think they could have changed to increase life expectancy? Why? Feel free to explain.

6.       In which seasons were death rates higher?  Why?????

Conclusion

Now you all should know the age at which people died during the Victorian Era and what factors lead to that statistic. 

Credits