Average life expectancy of the Chinese population in 1949–2019: trends, contributors and prospects

Abstract

This paper provided an overview of literature on life expectancy of Chinese population, elaborated the characteristics of the significant increase in the average life expectancy (ALE) of Chinese population over the past 70 years since the founding of PRC, analyzed the major factors contributing to the improvement in the ALE, and highlight the needs to put greater emphasize to increase average healthy life expectancy (AHLE), to narrow the regional differences in AHLE, to advocate and promote healthy lifestyles, and to prevent and control pollution persistently and effectively.