THE average life expectancy in China rose to 71.40 years in 2000, up 2.85 years on the previous decade, the latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics show.

　　The figure was based on the fifth national population census in 2000, State media reported yesterday.

　　It showed that male life expectancy was 69.63 years, up 2.79 years while female life expectancy was 73.33 years, up 2.86 years over 1990.

　　The average life expectancy in China was five years longer than the world average and seven years longer than the average of developing countries and regions. But it was five years shorter than developed countries.

　　People living in cities and towns had a life expectancy of 75.21 years, while those in rural areas had only 69.55 years.

　　The report said the difference would be reduced in the future as China was taking measures to develop rural areas and to quicken its step towards urbanization.

　　Life expectancy is the average number of years a newborn infant would be expected to live if health and living conditions at the time of its birth remained the same throughout his or her life.

　　It reflects the health of a country's people and the quality of care they receive when they are sick.

　　(Windy Shao)