Studies aiming at the development of indices which will indicate health levels and quality and quantity of life through the age structure of the population are under way. Assuming that the age structure of a population is affected by a large number of variables that determine the health levels, the quantity and quality of life, the author divides the population into two groups: 0 - 19 and 20 and more years. According to the percentage of the former group a classification as follows is proposed. The following points are stressed: a) populations with an annual growth rate higher than 4%, observable in the so called poles of intense economic development, which atract migration; b) populations where mass programmes or campaigns of vaccination are in progress; c) populations where mass programmes of control of natality are in progress.
Health levels; Population; Life spectation
