Life expectancy is a measure of how long a person can expect to live on average, based on the mortality rates of a population. It is an important indicator of the health and development of a country. In this blog post, we will look at the life expectancy in India, how it has changed over time, and what factors affect it.
According to the latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the average life expectancy at birth in India in 2021 was 67.24 years. This means that a newborn in India could expect to live for about 67 years if the current mortality patterns remain constant. However, this is only an average and there are significant variations across regions, genders, and socio-economic groups.
The life expectancy in India has improved significantly over the past decades, thanks to improvements in health care, sanitation, nutrition, and education. In 1950, the average life expectancy at birth was only 35.21 years. It increased to 62.28 years by 2000 and to 70.8 years by 2019. India’s life expectancy is now higher than some of its neighboring countries, such as Pakistan (67.79 years) and Bangladesh (73.57 years), but lower than others, such as Sri Lanka (77.56 years) and China (77.3 years).
The main causes of death in India are non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and cancer. These diseases are largely influenced by lifestyle factors, such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and air pollution. NCDs account for about 63% of all deaths in India.
However, communicable diseases (CDs), such as diarrheal diseases, lower respiratory infections, tuberculosis, and neonatal conditions, are still major causes of death, especially among children and the poor. These diseases are largely preventable and treatable with adequate access to clean water, sanitation, immunization, and health services. CDs account for about 25% of all deaths in India.
Another important cause of death in India is injuries, such as road traffic accidents, falls, suicides, and homicides. These causes are often related to social and environmental factors, such as poverty, alcohol use, mental health issues, and violence. Injuries account for about 12% of all deaths in India.
India’s life expectancy is predicted to rise further in the future as the nation’s social and economic development continues. The United Nations projects that the life expectancy at birth in India will reach 75.5 years by 2050 and 85.96 years by 2100. However, this will depend on how well the country can address the challenges of population aging, urbanization, climate change, and health inequities.
To conclude, life expectancy is a useful measure of the overall health and well-being of a population. India has made remarkable progress in increasing its life expectancy over the past decades, but it still faces many challenges in reducing the burden of disease and improving the quality of life for its people.
Dr. Sarbjit Singh
Consultant Ophthalmologist and Medical Director,
Dr. Shamsher Singh Eye Hospital,
Khanna, Punjab, India
Web Address
Info: Researched and compiled from various sources
Good effort. Keep it up
Thanks so much Mr Yap. Really appreciate your motivating words.
Thanks