Determinants of Life Expectancy in Developing Countries

The paper attempts to examine the socio-economic determinants of life expectancy for 91 developing countries using multiple regression and probit frameworks. Disaggregated probit regression has been applied for three groups of countries with low, medium and high life expectancy. Most of explanatory variables turned out to be statistically insignificant, which imply that relevant socio-economic factors like per capita income, education, health expenditure, access to safe water, and urbanization cannot always be considered to be influential in determining life expectancy in developing countries. Based on the analyses it has been suggested that the countries should formulate and implement appropriate social sector policies and programs to increase physicians' availability, and reduce adult illiteracy and undernourishment so as to improve their life expectancies.