Born in 1939 · the Silent Generation
Life expectancy if you were born in 1939
A baby born in the U.S. in 1939 could expect to live 62.1 years (boys) or 65.4 years (girls). Someone born in 1939 turns 87 in 2026, and by surviving this far can now expect to reach about 92 (men) or 93 (women).
Age in 2026
87
Men: years left
5.4
to about 92
Women: years left
6.3
to about 93
Gained since birth
+29.8 / +27.4
Men / women, vs. life expectancy at birth
Odds for people born in 1939 of reaching each age
Probabilities use current U.S. death rates (SSA 2023) applied from age 86 onward.
| Reach age | Men | Women | Year reached |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | 62% | 69% | 2029 |
| 95 | 21% | 29% | 2034 |
| 100 | 3% | 6% | 2039 |
How the birth year changed the odds
| Birth year | Male at birth | Female at birth |
|---|---|---|
| 1929 | 55.8 | 58.7 |
| 1934 | 59.3 | 63.3 |
| 1939 | 62.1 | 65.4 |
| 1944 | 63.6 | 66.8 |
| 1949 | 65.2 | 70.7 |
Life expectancy at birth rose for most of the last century as infant deaths and infectious disease fell. It dipped during the 1918 flu, again with the opioid crisis, and sharply in 2020–2021 with COVID-19, then began recovering.
Birth-year figures: CDC/NCHS life expectancy at birth (data.cdc.gov w9j2-ggv5, 1900-2018; NVSR/Data Briefs 2019-2023). Current remaining years: SSA 2023 period life table. Averages, not predictions.
Questions
What was life expectancy for someone born in 1939?
U.S. life expectancy at birth in 1939 was 62.1 years for males and 65.4 years for females (63.7 overall), according to CDC/NCHS.
How long will someone born in 1939 live?
Someone born in 1939 turns 87 in 2026. On average, men that age have about 5.4 years left (to about 92) and women about 6.3 (to about 93).
Why is my life expectancy now higher than it was at birth?
Life expectancy at birth includes everyone who died young. Once you have survived to your current age, those risks are behind you, so the average age you can expect to reach goes up. Medical and public-health gains since your birth also help.
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