Koreans’ life expectancy at 80, ranks 20th: WHO

By Kim Tae-jong

South Koreans’ average life expectancy is now at 80, the 20th highest among 193 countries monitored by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Korean men born in 2009 could expect to live until 76, up from 68 in 1990 and 72 in 2000, while women at birth have a life expectancy of 83 years, up from 76 in 1990 and 80 in 2000, the World Health Statistics 2011 said Saturday.

The figures are among over 100 health indicators that WHO surveyed in its 193 member states on areas including mother and child mortality, obesity, disease prevalence and health expenditure.

Japanese women have the longest life expectancy at 86 years while men in the tiny state of San Marino can expect to live the longest until 82.

In North Korea, female life expectancy if born in 2009 averaged at 72 years, up from 68 in 2000. For males, the life expectancy stood at 67, up from 64 in 2000.

“Average life expectancy across much of the world is steadily climbing, but men in Iraq and women in South Africa have life expectancies that are declining,” the report said.

Meanwhile the child death rate has been on a steady decline, adding the number of deaths in children under five was 8.1 million in 2009, down from 12.4 million in the 1990.

In Korea, the under-five mortality rate per 1,000 births recorded five in 2009, compared with six in 2000 and nine in 1990.

In the analysis of the statistics, WHO said the world’s health services were still weighed down with the “double burden” of infectious ailments and lifestyle diseases.

“Non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, strokes, diabetes and cancer, now make up two-thirds of all deaths globally, due to the aging population and the spread of risk factors associated with globalization and urbanization. The control of risk factors such as tobacco use, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet and excessive use of alcohol becomes more critical,” it said.

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