What does life expectancy indicate?

Life expectancy is a statistical measure that represents the average number of years a person is expected to live based on current mortality rates. This metric takes into account the age-specific death rates of a population and is typically calculated at birth, indicating how long newborns can expect to live if current mortality trends continue. It reflects the overall health of a population and can be influenced by factors such as healthcare access, lifestyle, economic conditions, and social factors.

This definition clarifies why the response regarding how long a person may be expected to live, on average, is the most accurate representation of life expectancy. It emphasizes the collective nature of this measure, providing insights into the demographic and health conditions of specific populations.

In contrast, the other options are misinterpretations of what life expectancy encompasses. They focus on narrower aspects such as children's mortality, individuals in poor health, or the cumulative years lived by a population, which do not accurately capture the broader concept of life expectancy as a reflection of average lifespan based on current mortality statistics.