Abstract:
A model for the life expectancy of West African nations is proposed in this paper using the regression analysis approach. The model shows how income is the major determining factor in the calculation of the life expectancy of individual citizens of West African countries. The model predictions were validated by using the sourced data, as the absolute difference between the model predictions and the sourced data was small with a high correlation between them. A variable sensitivity analysis was conducted using the model which indicated that the income variable of the citizens was the most sensitive variable. It is recommended that the income of every nation must be given priority when targeting areas of life expectancy intervention and improvement projects. This can be followed by the quality of health, unemployment rate and the economic status of the nation, respectively. The model optimisation confirmed that life expectancy of a nation could attain both low and high values depending on the policies/efforts of the government of that nation.