Longevity Increase Seen Around the World: WHO

Life expectancy in Canada makes a climb for both men and women. Statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that since 1990, a massive gap between low-income and high-income countries has resulted in an average life increase of nine years. 

The WHO released its annual mortality statistics in a report on Thursday, noting how the overall life expectancy of the world has increased by an estimated six years.

Females can expect to reach an average of 73 years old, while the average male can expect to hit his 68th birthday.

In Canada, life expectancy increased by an average of five years. Statistics show that children born in 2012 are expected to live an average of six years longer than those born in 1990.  

"Nevertheless, nearly 18,000 children worldwide died every day in 2012, and the global speed of decline in mortality rate remains insufficient to reach the target of a two-thirds reduction in the 1990 levels of mortality by the year 2015," the authors wrote, via cbc.ca.

This dramatic divide between those in high-income and low-income countries still persists. Researchers also peg more of the gain in life expectancy to less dying from certain health issues at a relatively young age.

"In high-income countries, much of the gain in life expectancy is due to success in tackling noncommunicable diseases," said Dr. Ties Boerma, Director of the Department of Health Statistics and Information Systems at WHO, via a press release. "Fewer men and women are dying before they get to their 60th birthday from heart disease and stroke."

Australia, Japan, Singapore, Luxembourg and Italy remain countries with the world's longest life expectancy for both men and women.

To find out more about the WHO report that was released on May 15, click here.