WHO: Global Life Expectancy Increases by Five Years Since 2000

Despite progress in the world's poorer countries, WHO stressed that there remain significant life expectancy gaps between developed and developing nations.

The World Health Organization reported that the global life expectancy has increased by five years between 2000 and 2015, crediting progress in Africa against HIV, AIDS and malaria.

The gains made over the last 15 years are the largest since the 1960s, when the world -- especially Europe and Japan -- saw broad socio-economic improvements linked to the recovery from World War II, WHO said.

China's Life Expectancy Rises, but Health Inequalities Between Provinces Remain
These gains in life expectancy seen across China have been thought to be linked to increasing GDP and improved maternal education.

‘The average lifespan can be increased further by reducing the number of smokers worldwide and providing clean drinking water.’

On average, a child born in 2015 can expect to live 71.4 years -- with females (73.8 years) having better prospects than males (69.1 years), according to data published in WHO's annual World Health Statistics report.

Director-general of the UN agency, Margaret Chan, said major strides had been made against "preventable and treatable diseases", especially through widened access to anti-retroviral therapy for HIV.

The last 15 years have helped reverse the regressions seen through 1990s, when the AIDS epidemic ravaged much of Africa sparking declining health indicators across the continent.

Life Expectancy Increases Among Treated HIV-Positive Patients
In the U.S. or Canada, a 20-year-old HIV-positive adult on antiretroviral therapy (ART) may be expected to live into their early 70's, a life expectancy approaching that of the general population.

Despite progress in the world's poorer countries, WHO stressed that there remain significant life expectancy gaps between developed and developing nations.

The data indicates that a female child born in Japan currently has the longest average lifespan at 86.8 years. For men, Switzerland offers the most promising outlook, with a life expectancy of 81.3 years.

Life Expectancy in Tibet Is Expected to Rise
The average life expectancy in Tibet was 68.2 years in 2013, up from 35.5 years before the Chinese takeover in 1951, now it is expected to rise to 70 years.

Sierra Leone ominously holds last place for both women and men, at 50.8 years and 49.3 respectively.

WHO pointed to several key areas where advances were essential in order to raise the average lifespan further, including reducing the number of smokers worldwide -- currently 1.1 billion -- and providing clean water to the 1.8 billion people who drink contaminated water on a regular basis.

Report Says Life Expectancy of Young Oz Males is Lower Than Females
Young Australian males are twice as likely to die under all circumstances compared to young females, a new study reveals.

Source-AFP