The average lifespan for the world is now 66.12 years (2008 estimate) and is appreciably higher in developed countries such as Japan which tops the list at 81. The figure is higher for women than their male counterparts. The number of centenarians is rising at the rate of 7% per annum. Whereas in the past we have thought of life stages as childhood, student, working and retirement, do we now have a new phase of 'emerging old age'?
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