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| Life
Expectancy at Birth in China, Europe, USA and India: 1950-2050 (Both
Sexes) |
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Source: World Population Prospects, the 2008 Revision. United Nations,
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Population
Division, New York. See:
www.unpopulation.org
Note: Scale starts at age 35 to better illustrate differences
between countries. Europe (48) see
Glossary |
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China's life expectancy at birth increased
significantly in the late 1960s after the "Great Leap Forward".
Today, China's life expectancy for both sexes is remarkably close to
the average life expectancy of Europe - just some 2 years lower.
Europe's life expectancy for both sexes, however, is about 4 years
lower than in the United States of America - due to the
exceptionally low level of life expectancy in Eastern Europe. |
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Compared to China, India's life expectancy
for both sexes has increased much slower. Today, it is more than 8
years below the level of China and more than 14 years below the
level of the United States of America. |
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These numbers demonstrate the remarkable
development success of China, whose government has focused on
bringing basic health care to most (rural) regions and social
groups. While India certainly has world-class hospitals and doctors,
basic health care, hygiene, and health education has apparently not
reached all sections of the population. |
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This data section was updated on April 11, 2009 |
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