The Average Chinese Life-Span: 70.8 Years

The Average Chinese person is living longer than ever before. Statistics from the State Statistical Bureau indicate the average Chinese life-span hit 70.8 years in 1996. The typical man lived for 68.71 years, while women 73.04 years. These figures were up 1.87 and 2.57 years respectively over 1990. However, compared with figures from 1981, the average life-expectancy in 1990 only increased by 0.78 years.

According to statistics, 7.99 million Chinese people died in 1996. The mortality rate of 6.56 per thousand has dropped sharply since the 1980s, The recent decline in the mortality rate is attributed to lower mortality rate among children under 10 and those over 60.

Reports say China's average life-span is 8 years shorter than that of developed countries, but 10 years longer than that of developing countries. Chinese women are already living for 8 years longer than the United Nations' international life-expectancy goal of 65 years by the year 2000.

(From Official Publication: Beijing Review July 7-13/97)