Life expectancy at birth

Life expectancy at birth continues to rise in the Asia/Pacific region, averaging about 72 years in 2011 up from 61 years in 1980 (, Panel A). At over 20 years on average across the population the largest increases in life expectancy since 1980 were recorded for Lao PDR, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. This rapid increase is related to a number of factors, including rising living standards, better nutrition, water and sanitation, increased education and greater access to health services. Nevertheless, despite the significant gains in the Asia/Pacific region, it still lags behind the other world regions except Africa (UN World Population Prospects data, 2010). On average in 2011, the population in OECD countries outlived the Asia/Pacific economies by eight years.