Life expectancy figure continues to rise in Shanghai

Local average life expectancy in 2013 was almost 82 and a half years old, health authorities Sunday announced.

A child born in Shanghai last year can, on average, expect to live until they are 82.47 years, the Shanghai Health and Family Planning Commission said.

This represents a slight rise of 0.06 years — just under 22 days — on 2012's figure, the commission said.

The city's life expectancy, maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate — factors labeled as "three major indexes for citizens' health" — have been on a par with those of developed countries over the past decade, according to the commission.

Shanghai residents have seen a steady increase in life expectancy over the past few years, from a 81.73 figure in 2009.

In a report last year, the average life expectancy of locally registered females in 2012 was said to be 84.67 years — 4.49 years longer than for male residents.

In yesterday's report, the maternal mortality rate, including migrant women, fell from 7.1 per 100,000 in 2012 to 7.08 per 100,000 last year.

The infant mortality rate, including migrant families, rose from 5.04 per 1,000 in 2013 to 5.73 per 1,000.

Data from the commission found that there were 180,000 medical workers in the city at the end of last year.

Some 224 million patients received medical treatment in local hospitals and medical centers — an increase of more than 10 million people compared to 2012.