What was the average life expectancy of a labourer in Bethnal Green, London in 1842?

• A. 40
• B. 12
• C. 16
• D. 25

Answer: (C)

In this period, life expectancy is treated as the average length of life from birth, and urban, poor areas faced extremely high infant mortality. In Bethnal Green in 1842, many babies died in infancy, so the overall average life expectancy for a newborn labourer was about 16 years. Those who survived early childhood could live much longer, but the statistic shown reflects the fate of most births in a crowded, unhealthy environment. That’s why 16 is the best fit: it mirrors the historical pattern where infant deaths pulled the average down dramatically. The other numbers don’t match this overall birth-to-death average: 40 would imply a much higher average for those who survived infancy, 25 is higher than the typical overall average, and 12 is unrealistically low for the entire population.