The average life expectancy of Chinese residents has increased, reaching 79 years last year, with eight provinces and cities surpassing an average life expectancy of 80 years.
This data was revealed by Lei Haichao, Director of China's National Health Commission, at a press conference on the 11th. This marks an increase of 0.4 years compared to 2023 and a rise of 1.1 years compared to 2020. In 1949, when the People's Republic of China was founded, the average life expectancy of the population was only 35 years.
Lei Haichao stated that among the 53 upper-middle and high-income countries, China's per capita life expectancy ranks fourth, achieving ahead of schedule the target set in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025).
The three directly-administered municipalities—Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai—as well as the provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Hainan, all have average life expectancies exceeding 80 years.
Lei Haichao pointed out that over the past five years, China has built the world's largest disease prevention and control system. The health literacy level of residents increased from 23.2% in 2020 to 31.9% in 2024. The premature mortality rate from major chronic diseases has been further controlled, while the incidence rates of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis B, and AIDS have continued to decline or remain at a low endemic level.