South Africans born in 2010 shouldn’t expect to live beyond 40. The ravages of AIDS are to blame. Life expectancy is already low, with men and women expecting to live only until their fifties. But in less than a decade the spread of HIV will drive that figure down to 37 for women and 38 for men, says a respected annual report by labour relations consultancy NMG-Levy. The country will lose a whole generation of productive workers aged between 20 and 50, leaving behind a crippled country dominated by children below 15 and adults over 50.
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
We've found a mysterious substance on Titan and Pluto
2
Faecal transplant makes the brains of old mice act young again
3
A quantum state that lasts forever may finally be within our grasp
4
The secrets to keeping your brain sharp in old age
5
What’s the secret to living well beyond the average life expectancy?
6
Can prebiotics, probiotics or postbiotics help your ageing microbiome?
7
Our brains have their first thoughts surprisingly early in life
8
Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time
9
Most portable air conditioners suck – but there's an easy fix
10
Arctic Ocean reaches tipping point that could be dire for marine life
