Life expectancy at birth in China
China: Life expectancy at birth was 77.62 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Life expectancy at birth in China, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for life expectancy at birth in China is 77.62, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life expectancy at birth in China peaked at 77.62 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 70.84, in 2000.
China ranks 34th of 184 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Life expectancy at birth in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 70.84 | — |
| 2001 | 71.13 | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 71.45 | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 71.69 | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 71.93 | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 72.44 | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 73.29 | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 73.84 | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 74 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 74.39 | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 74.65 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 75.04 | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 75.48 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 75.84 | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 76.2 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 76.51 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 76.72 | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 76.95 | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 77.14 | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 77.31 | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 77.48 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 77.62 | +0.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 77.62 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 72.75, 1.1× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- China's 77.62 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 70.19, 1.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 72.5 | 70.84 | 74.39 | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.18 | 74.65 | 77.31 | 10 |
| 2020s | 77.55 | 77.48 | 77.62 | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life expectancy at birth in China?
- Life expectancy at birth in China was 77.62 in 2021, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest life expectancy at birth recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 77.62 in 2021.
- What is the lowest life expectancy at birth recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 70.84 in 2000.
- How does China rank for life expectancy at birth?
- China ranks 34th out of 184 countries with data for 2021.
- Is life expectancy at birth rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Life expectancy at birth (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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