Chinese Life Expectancy Rises by 41 Years in One Century

The Chinese average life expectancy has risen to 71 from just over 30 years old at the beginning of this century, said an expert on demography.

This can be attributed to the advancement of science and technology, especially in medical science, said Zhao Baohua, vice-director of China Association for Aged People, at a seminar being held in the port city of Qingdao.

At the beginning of 18th century, there were no countries with an average lifespan over 35 years old, he said.

In the 19th century, however, people's life expectancy in some countries was extended to 40 years old thanks to the invention of a vaccination against smallpox.

The worldwide lifespan average kept rising after the invention of penicillin and a number of other antibiotics. The lifespan worldwide average is 66 at present.

With the development of gene technology, people may have an average lifespan of 100 years old by the end of the 21st century, he said.

People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/