amicable,
Fair enough question, but this data was included in the link above, which I have pasted again below. It shows, as an example, that a white male who made it to 20 would on average live 40 more years until he was 60. In 2011 the same white male at 20 would live on average 60 more years, until he was 80. And so on.
Even so, as long as the data comparisons are the same, e.g. life expectancy at birth, it is a meaningful and fair comparison. Unless you think 1 - 5 year olds are insignificant.
So regardless of how you view the data we live much longer than in the past. We should all view scientific studies with scrutiny if not skepticism. But science is its own harshest critic and monitor, as Cofty has stated. Additionally, scientific, empirical studies rarely if ever describe their results as definitive conclusions.
They typically use words such as 'suggests' and 'findings' and they qualify 'conclusions.' Good studies include any problems with the data and almost always identify shortcomings in their own study by pointing out areas or topics on the subject that should be considered for future studies.
That doesn't mean the process is perfect or that some scientists let bias impact their results. That's part of the human process, but the scientific community will typically rip someone to shreds when they violate the process.
https://www.infoplease.com/us/mortality/life-expectancy-age-1850-2011