Life expectancy up slightly in India during 2013-17; rural-urban gap closes

Females continue to have higher life expectancy

Life expectancy at birth in India has risen marginally to 69 years during 2013-17 from 68.7 during 2012-16, according to the latest survey. Life expectancy at birth is defined as how long, on average, a newborn can expect to live, if current death rates do not change. 

In fact, life expectancy at birth for the country has undergone a significant change from 49.7 in 1970-75 to 69 in the latest survey, registering an increase of 19.3 years in the last four decades, according to the latest Sample Registration Survey.

Life expectancy of males rose by around five months during this