India's life expectancy rises to 69.7 year
India's life expectancy at birth during the year 2015-2019 has reached 69.7 as per the recently released data by the Sample Registration System (SRS). The under-five mortality rate and infant mortality rate may be one factor, which makes it difficult to increase life expectancy at birth in India. However, India's life expectancy still remains below the global average of 72.6 year.
The highest life expectancy was recorded in the capital of the country at 75.9 years and the lowest in Chhattisgarh at 65.3 years. India's life expectancy was 49.7 in the year 1970-75, which increased to 69.7 in the year 2015-2019 i.e. the average age increased by 20 years in a span of 45 years.
The difference between life expectancy at birth and life expectancy at one year or five years is highest in states such as Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, which have the highest infant mortality rates. Life expectancy at birth has increased by 20 years in India, from 49.7 in 1970-75 to 69.7 in 2015-2019.
There is a significant difference in life expectancy at birth in urban and rural areas as well as in states. Himachal Pradesh had the highest life expectancy of urban women at 82.3 years. Bihar and Jharkhand are the only states where the life expectancy of men is higher than that of women in both urban and rural areas.