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In the mid-1930s, the average life expectancy at birth in the United States hovered around 60 years. This starkly different figure from today is shaped by a confluence of factors, revealing the complex answer to the question: what was the average lifespan in 1935?
When Social Security began in 1935, the average life expectancy at birth was just 58 for men and 62 for women, a figure heavily influenced by high infant mortality rates. Understanding **what was life expectancy when Social Security started** requires separating this misleading average from the reality for those who actually survived to retirement age.
Individuals born in 1935 are members of the Silent Generation, a cohort defined by an upbringing during the Great Depression and World War II. This era of economic uncertainty and global conflict profoundly shaped their values, leading to a reputation for resilience, hard work, and a pragmatic outlook on life.
