Subjective life expectancy, different from the average life expectancy of the population, refers to the age that an individual is likely to live, which is a quantification of an individual’s perceived remaining life. Domestic researches on life expectancy mostly have focused on average life expectancy, but have paid little attention to subjective life expectancy. The average life expectancy plays an important role in the national macro policy system, while the impact of subjective life expectancy on individual decision-making and behavior in the micro level cannot be ignored. Based on the review of relevant domestic and foreign literature, three important aspects of subjective life expectancy research are comprehensively sorted out: Firstly, it explains the concept, characteristics and measurement methods of subjective life expectancy, summarizes the important characteristics of subjective life expectancy———difference, instability and intervenability, summarizes the characteristics of existing research in data types and sources, and explains the many problems that may exist in their research process. It has important reference significance for the design of future related research to be scientific and reasonable and reduce the deviation. Secondly, there are five important factors influencing subjective life expectancy, including personal / genetic factors, health behavior factors, economic factors, psychological factors and cultural factors. Thirdly, the research field of subjective life expectancy is discussed, and the important research contents of subjective life expectancy in the fields of health and medical care, retirement and old-age care, and economy and consumption are discussed. Based on reviewing the related literature, at the same time of pointing out the deficiencies in the existing research, six directions are proposed for exploration in further research, which can provide references for expanding the relevant exploration of subjective life expectancy in China and its research in the fields of demography, sociology and management, and bring enlightenment for all areas of practice.
