Table 2.2 depicts population longevity for the same countries. These tables illustrate three facts. First, looking at each country’s population growth and longevity, we see simultaneous declining population growth and increasing longevity.
Even among the fast-growing emerging economies, such an extended period of growth is rare, as most of these countries were affected at some point by the various crises that occurred over that period. Australia’s performance, therefore, is quite unusual and I think it is worth spending some time thinking about how it was achieved. 3.