One-year increase in life expectancy in China reflects gains across multiple sectors

Senior residents practice musical instruments at a community-based activity center for elderly people in Jiangbei District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Oct. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

In 2025, the average life expectancy in China reached 79 years, marking an increase of over one year for three consecutive Five-Year Plan periods, or 15 years. This places the major health indicators of Chinese residents among the leading group of middle- and high-income countries.

Experience from around the world shows that once a country's average life expectancy exceeds 75 years, further gains tend to slow significantly, and each additional increase requires far greater effort. That China has achieved this increase from an already high baseline reflects a comprehensive, continuous, and systematic improvement in the health of over 1.4 billion people.

The one-year increase in China's average life expectancy reflects the strong support of the world's largest medical and health care system.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China strengthened its public health system, improved control over major infectious diseases, and advanced early detection, diagnosis, and treatment for chronic conditions. It also enhanced its ability to handle emerging infectious diseases and provided vaccines for 15 diseases free of charge nationwide. As a result, the incidence of major infectious diseases remained low, and the premature mortality rate from major chronic diseases dropped to below 15 percent.

By the end of 2025, more than 90 percent of residents were able to access the nearest health care facility within 15 minutes.

The one-year increase in China's average life expectancy is supported by a strong multi-layered social security system. From 2021 to 2025, the multi-tiered social security system that covers the entire population in urban and rural areas and is fair, unified, reliable, well-regulated, and sustainable was improved, and inclusive programs that help improve livelihood and provide social welfare assistance were further advanced.

Old-age insurance and long-term care insurance were steadily advancing. By the end of 2025, more than 1.07 billion people enjoyed coverage under China's basic old-age insurance. The long-term care insurance system was gradually implemented, covering about 190 million people and effectively addressing the long-term care needs of those with disabilities.

The medical insurance system continued to strengthen, with more than 1.3 billion people covered by basic medical insurance. From 2021 to 2024, nearly 20 billion medical visits received insurance reimbursements, significantly easing the financial burden on those seeking medical care.

The one-year increase in China's average life expectancy was made possible through tailored, attentive care for key groups, including both the elderly and children.

From 2021 to 2025, age-friendly home renovations were completed for 2.24 million households with older people facing special difficulties. Nationwide, there were around 400,000 eldercare institutions and service facilities, and care-oriented beds accounted for 67.5 percent of the total.

Additionally, the maternal mortality rate fell from 16.9 per 100,000 in 2020 to 14.3 per 100,000 in 2024, while the infant mortality rate declined from 5.4 per 1,000 to 4.0 per 1,000. Childcare capacity expanded rapidly. The number of childcare places per 1,000 people rose from 1.8 in 2020 to 4.73 in 2025, an increase of 163 percent.

The one-year increase in China's average life expectancy reflects the improvement of people's well-being in an all-round manner. People's well-being is found in the everyday details of life. In China, expectations around food have moved from simply having enough to eat, to eating well, and now to eating in a healthier way. In the past, a trip to the city took half a day. Today, thanks to a fully developed infrastructure network, it is possible to travel from northern to southern China and back within a single day.

Peace and good health are, above all, the greatest sources of happiness. Grounded in tangible development achievements, China has demonstrated that with effective institutional arrangement and sound policy support, developing countries can significantly improve public health and overall well-being.