Socioeconomic Determinants Of Life Expectancy In India: An Empirical Analysis

Abstract

This Study Examines The Socioeconomic Determinants Of Life Expectancy At Birth (LEB) In India From 1990 To 2023 Using The ARDL Bounds Testing Framework On Annual Time-series Data. LEB Increased From 58 To 72 Years, Driven Primarily By Food Production (ΔLFPI, β = 0.187, P < 0.0001), Literacy (LLIT, β = 0.278, P < 0.0001), GDP Per Capita (LGDP, β = 0.058, P < 0.001), And Declining Fertility (ΔLTFR, β = –0.389, P = 0.011); Physician Density (ΔLDOC, β = 0.088, P = 0.068)is Marginally Significant, While Urbanization, CO₂ Emissions, And Inflation Are Insignificant Due To Multicollinearity And Offsetting Effects. The Cointegrated Model (F = 108.7) Explains 93% Of LEB Variation And Is Structurally Stable. Findings Highlight That Nutrition, Education, Income, And Demographic Transition—not Clinical Care Alone—drive Longevity, Urging Policymakers To Prioritise Agriculture, Universal Literacy, Inclusive Growth, And Family Planning. Subnational Panel Studies Are Needed To Address Aggregation Bias And Omitted Variables (e.g., Sanitation, Health Expenditure).

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