Australians are living longer now than they ever have before, new data shows.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released the highest life expectancy estimates ever recorded in the country.
Figures suggest a boy born today could expect to live for 79.9 years and a girl 84.3 years.
The nation’s median life expectancy at birth rose by more than half a year in 2012 to 82, ranking it third in the world behind Japan and Hong Kong.
ABS director of demography Bjorn Jarvis: "A boy born today could expect to live 79.9 years, while a girl could expect to live 84.3 years. For those approaching retirement age, say 65 years, males could expect to live a further 19 years and females a further 22 years.”
Across Australia, the Australian Capital Territory had the highest life expectancy at birth, with 81.2 years for males and 85.1 years for females.
The lowest life expectancy was in the Northern Territory, at 74.7 years for males and 80.0 years for females.
There were 147,098 deaths registered in Australia in 2012, the standardised death rate fell to 5.5 deaths per 1,000 people, the lowest rate ever recorded in Australia. The 2002 death rate was 6.8 deaths per 1,000.
Mr Jarvis added: "Australia's life expectancy at birth continues to be amongst the highest in the world. The combined male and female figure of 82.0 years, while a little lower than Japan and Hong Kong, is higher than Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US.”
Posted by Steve Douglas
