China life expectancy by year, 1990 to 2024

China: 78.0 years in 2024. Life expectancy peaked at 78.2 years in 2022 in this 1990–2024 series.

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What the data shows

China: 68.2 years in 1990, 78.0 years in 2024. It peaked at 78.2 years in 2022.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: 71.5 years in 1990, 78.0 years in 2024. Its low point was 50.9 years in 1993.
Jordan: 70.1 years in 1990, 78.0 years in 2024.
Lebanon: 65.5 years in 1990, 77.9 years in 2024. It peaked at 78.3 years in 2015.

About this chart

China's life expectancy rose from 68.2 years in 1990 to 78.0 years in 2024. The highest estimate in this period was 78.2 years, reached in 2022. The displayed annual series runs from 1990 through 2024; its lowest value was 68.2 years in 1990. The preceding annual observation, for 2023, was 78.0 years.

Life expectancy at birth, both sexes: the years a newborn would live if the mortality rates for that year persisted. This is a period estimate, not a forecast for an individual. In 2024, the comparison lines show Bosnia and Herzegovina (78.0 years), Jordan (78.0 years) and Lebanon (77.9 years). These peers have the closest latest values among reporting countries with over one million people and a continuous common history; they are not selected by geography.

The data

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (SP.DYN.LE00.IN), years. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Life expectancy at birth, both sexes: the years a newborn would live if the mortality rates for that year persisted. This is a period estimate, not a forecast for an individual. Peers are selected by proximity to the country's latest value among countries with over one million people and a continuous common series.

China: life expectancy, years, 1990 to 2024; three nearest peers, 1990–2024
Date	🇨🇳 China	🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina	🇯🇴 Jordan	🇱🇧 Lebanon
1990	68.2 years	71.5 years	70.1 years	65.5 years
1991	68.6 years	71.8 years	70.2 years	70.9 years
1992	69.1 years	52.0 years	70.4 years	71.2 years
1993	69.5 years	50.9 years	70.6 years	71.6 years
1994	69.8 years	66.6 years	70.7 years	72.0 years
1995	70.4 years	70.2 years	70.9 years	72.4 years
1996	70.8 years	73.5 years	71.1 years	72.6 years
1997	71.2 years	73.9 years	71.3 years	72.9 years
1998	71.6 years	74.5 years	71.5 years	73.2 years
1999	72.0 years	74.9 years	71.7 years	73.5 years
2000	72.3 years	75.3 years	71.9 years	73.9 years
2001	72.7 years	75.6 years	72.1 years	74.4 years
2002	73.0 years	76.0 years	72.4 years	74.8 years
2003	73.4 years	76.4 years	72.6 years	75.3 years
2004	73.7 years	76.5 years	72.8 years	75.7 years
2005	74.1 years	76.4 years	73.0 years	76.1 years
2006	74.4 years	76.0 years	73.2 years	75.7 years
2007	74.8 years	76.2 years	73.4 years	76.7 years
2008	74.8 years	76.3 years	73.6 years	77.0 years
2009	75.3 years	76.7 years	73.7 years	77.3 years
2010	75.7 years	76.8 years	73.8 years	77.5 years
2011	75.9 years	77.0 years	73.9 years	77.8 years
2012	76.2 years	77.0 years	74.1 years	77.9 years
2013	76.5 years	77.1 years	74.3 years	78.0 years
2014	76.7 years	77.1 years	74.6 years	78.1 years
2015	77.0 years	77.1 years	75.1 years	78.3 years
2016	77.2 years	77.1 years	75.5 years	78.3 years
2017	77.2 years	77.4 years	76.1 years	78.2 years
2018	77.7 years	77.9 years	76.5 years	78.3 years
2019	77.9 years	77.4 years	76.9 years	78.2 years
2020	78.0 years	76.0 years	75.6 years	76.3 years
2021	78.1 years	74.6 years	74.2 years	73.7 years
2022	78.2 years	76.8 years	77.1 years	78.0 years
2023	78.0 years	77.8 years	77.8 years	77.8 years
2024	78.0 years	78.0 years	78.0 years	77.9 years

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Frequently asked questions

What is the life expectancy in China?

Life expectancy at birth in China was 78.0 years in 2024, according to the World Bank series for both sexes. This is a period estimate using that year's mortality rates.

When was China's life expectancy highest in this series?

The highest displayed value was 78.2 years in 2022. This comparison covers 1990 through 2024; it is not a claim about years outside the available series.

Why are these countries compared with China?

The comparison selects three countries with the closest 2024 values, among countries with over one million people and at least fifteen consecutive annual observations in common. The matching is based on the indicator level, not economic structure or geographic proximity.

Where does this data come from?

World Bank, World Development Indicators (SP.DYN.LE00.IN), years. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Life expectancy at birth, both sexes: the years a newborn would live if the mortality rates for that year persisted. This is a period estimate, not a forecast for an individual. Peers are selected by proximity to the country's latest value among countries with over one million people and a continuous common series. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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