title: Economic level and human longevity: Spatial and temporal variations and correlation analysis of per capita GDP and longevity indicators in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We show the variation of longevity indicators in China during the past 60 years and its correlation patterns with per capita GDP (GDPpc) both at provincial and inner-provincial level.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population data from six national population censuses in China (1953-2010) at provincial level and in several typical provinces in 2010 at county-level were selected. Four main longevity indicators were calculated. Pearson's r and distributed lags time series analysis between longevity indicators and GDPpc were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show that Guangxi and Hainan Provinces maintain relatively high long-lived population (population over the age of 90) across various population censuses. The distributions of the population over the age of 80 and life expectancy are significantly affected by both contemporaneous and historical GDPpc at provincial level. However, areas of high long-lived population (over the age of 90) exhibit continuously stable features that lack any significant correlation with GDPpc both at provincial and inner-provincial level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate a mixed distribution pattern of several longevity indexes and different relation to GDPpc. It shows consistent trend with Preston curve, that is, economic conditions may have limited influence on human longevity, especially for those who live longer than 90 years old. This study suggests that the economic development may favor the local residents to have access to live as old as 80 years old, but it is still difficult for most residents to reach the level of centenarians.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Shaobin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. Electronic address: luokl@igsnrr.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Kunli
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: College of Geography and Tourism, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 400047, China.
authors.forename: Yonglin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Shixi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaoxu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Runxiang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Xinglei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy / Q000639:trends*; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: China; Correlation analysis; Economic level; Longevity; Spatial and temporal variations