Lei Haichao, director of the National Health Commission, said at the press conference on the people’s livelihood theme at the Third Session of the 14th National People’s Congress on March 9, 2025 that China’s average life expectancy will reach 79 years in 2024, an increase of 0.4 years from 2023.
China’s average life expectancy reached 79 years in 2024, which has increased by 0.4 years from 2023, said Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission, at the press conference on people’s livelihood held during the third session of the 14th National People’s Congress on March 9, 2025.
On September 27, 2024, Kong Xiangju, an elderly man from Changchun City, Jilin Province, used a smart watch to monitor his heart condition at home. Image source: Xinhua News Agency
【Knowledge Points】
The average life expectancy is calculated by counting the mortality rate of all ages and calculating the average number of years that the newborn population can survive. The lower the mortality rate among all ages, the higher the average life expectancy will be. The average life expectancy is calculated using the life expectancy table preparation method, which is not equivalent to the actual average death age of the population. However, since it can reflect the comprehensive economic, social, ecological environment, population lifestyle, health and health of a certain place at a certain time and at a certain time, and can be directly compared, this indicator has been widely used around the world.
On March 9, 2025, the National Health Commission revealed at the press conference on the people’s livelihood at the Third Session of the 14th National People’s Congress that according to the latest statistical results, China’s average life expectancy reached 79 years in 2024, an increase of 0.4 years from 2023, ranking fourth among 53 middle- and high-income countries, and the established direction of efforts to achieve the goals of the “14th Five-Year Plan” ahead of schedule. At present, the average life expectancy in eight provinces and cities including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Hainan has exceeded 80 years. Compared with the founding of New China, China’s average life expectancy has increased more than doubled. Before the founding of New China, the average life expectancy was only about 35 years old. According to the third census data, the average life expectancy in China in 1981 was 67.9 years. By 1998, the average life expectancy rose to 71 years, which had far exceeded the world average. From 2012 to the end of 2024, China’s average life expectancy increased by more than 3.5 years in more than 10 years.
【Important Speech】
We thoroughly implement the people-centered development philosophy, continue to work hard to improve people’s lives in all aspects of education, education, employment, medical care, elderly care, housing, and support for the weak. The average life expectancy increased to 78.2 years. The per capita disposable income of residents increased from 16,500 yuan to 35,100 yuan. The annual increase in urban jobs is more than 13 million.
We have implemented a people-centered philosophy of development. We have worked continuously to ensure people’s access to childcare, education, employment, medical services, elderly care, housing, and social assistance, thus bringing about an all-around improvement in people’s lives. China’s life expectancy has reached 78.2 years, its per capita disposable annual income has risen from 16,500 yuan to 35,100 yuan, and more than 13 million urban jobs have been created each year on average over the past 10 years.
People’s health is an important symbol of national prosperity and national strength. Put the protection of people’s health in a strategic position of priority development and improve people’s health promotion policies.
People’s health is a key indicator of a prosperous nation and a strong country. We must give strategic priority to ensuring the people’s health and improve policies on promoting public health.
——October 16, 2022, Xi Jinping’s report at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China
【Related Words】
Healthy China Action
Healthy China initiative
Health literacy level
health literacy rate
China Daily Network English Dots and Tianjin Studio (this article was first published on the “Study Strong Country” learning platform)
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