Life Expectancy at Birth: China
China's life expectancy at birth is currently 78.017 years as of 2024. # China Life Expectancy at Birth China's life expectancy reached 78.
Current (2024)
78.017 years
+0.1% y/y
Peak (2022)
78.202 years
Low (1960)
33.419 years
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
1960–2024 · 65 pts
Life Expectancy at Birth — China
1960 — 2024
Life Expectancy at Birth — China
Analysis# China Life Expectancy at Birth
China's life expectancy reached 78.017 years in 2024, approaching its all-time peak of 78.202 years set in 2022. This represents a remarkable transformation from 1960, when life expectancy stood at just 33.419 years—a gain of 133.5% over six decades. The sustained climb reflects decades of public health improvements, economic development, and expanded healthcare access across the nation's population.
The most dramatic progress occurred between 1960 and the early 2000s, when rapid gains reflected basic health infrastructure expansion. Recent years show stability in the upper 77–78 year range, with a slight dip in 2023 (77.953 years) before rebounding marginally in 2024. This plateauing pattern, common among developed nations approaching biological limits, suggests China's life expectancy gains may continue incrementally rather than accelerate.
Historical Data
65 Rows| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 78.017 years | +0.08% |
| 2023 | 77.953 years | -0.32% |
| 2022 | 78.202 years | +0.11% |
| 2021 | 78.117 years | +0.13% |
| 2020 | 78.019 years | +0.10% |
| 2019 | 77.94 years | +0.30% |
| 2018 | 77.709 years | +0.61% |
| 2017 | 77.235 years | +0.03% |
| 2016 | 77.214 years | +0.31% |
| 2015 | 76.975 years | +0.34% |
| 2014 | 76.714 years | +0.34% |
| 2013 | 76.452 years | +0.33% |
| 2012 | 76.2 years | +0.41% |
| 2011 | 75.889 years | +0.29% |
| 2010 | 75.668 years | +0.47% |
| 2009 | 75.317 years | +0.65% |
| 2008 | 74.833 years | +0.06% |
| 2007 | 74.789 years | +0.52% |
| 2006 | 74.404 years | +0.43% |
| 2005 | 74.085 years | +0.49% |
Show all 65 rows
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 73.727 years | +0.47% |
| 2003 | 73.385 years | +0.48% |
| 2002 | 73.034 years | +0.49% |
| 2001 | 72.675 years | +0.54% |
| 2000 | 72.288 years | +0.47% |
| 1999 | 71.952 years | +0.49% |
| 1998 | 71.601 years | +0.53% |
| 1997 | 71.227 years | +0.57% |
| 1996 | 70.823 years | +0.65% |
| 1995 | 70.363 years | +0.76% |
| 1994 | 69.835 years | +0.49% |
| 1993 | 69.492 years | +0.63% |
| 1992 | 69.059 years | +0.65% |
| 1991 | 68.61 years | +0.67% |
| 1990 | 68.155 years | +0.33% |
| 1989 | 67.93 years | +0.48% |
| 1988 | 67.607 years | +0.51% |
| 1987 | 67.263 years | +0.56% |
| 1986 | 66.887 years | +0.53% |
| 1985 | 66.532 years | +0.58% |
| 1984 | 66.148 years | +0.64% |
| 1983 | 65.728 years | +0.73% |
| 1982 | 65.249 years | +0.73% |
| 1981 | 64.778 years | +0.83% |
| 1980 | 64.243 years | +0.85% |
| 1979 | 63.704 years | +0.95% |
| 1978 | 63.102 years | +1.03% |
| 1977 | 62.458 years | +2.01% |
| 1976 | 61.225 years | +0.45% |
| 1975 | 60.952 years | +1.18% |
| 1974 | 60.241 years | +1.25% |
| 1973 | 59.496 years | +1.57% |
| 1972 | 58.579 years | +1.47% |
| 1971 | 57.731 years | +1.60% |
| 1970 | 56.824 years | +1.49% |
| 1969 | 55.988 years | +1.44% |
| 1968 | 55.191 years | +1.45% |
| 1967 | 54.401 years | +1.38% |
| 1966 | 53.662 years | +1.25% |
| 1965 | 53.001 years | +1.26% |
| 1964 | 52.343 years | +1.30% |
| 1963 | 51.67 years | +1.40% |
| 1962 | 50.959 years | +26.90% |
| 1961 | 40.158 years | +20.17% |
| 1960 | 33.419 years | — |
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