China vs United States Life Expectancy Comparison (2024)

Name: China vs United States Life Expectancy Historical World Bank Dataset
Creator: World Bank Open Data

China vs United States All Annual Observations (1960 – 2024)

Complete annual observations of Life Expectancy at Birth for China and United States reported by World Bank.

Year	🇨🇳 China Life Expectancy	🇺🇸 United States Life Expectancy	Difference / Gap
2024	78.02 years	78.89 years	0.87 years
2023	77.95 years	78.39 years	0.43 years
2022	78.20 years	77.43 years	0.77 years
2021	78.12 years	76.33 years	1.79 years
2020	78.02 years	76.98 years	1.04 years
2019	77.94 years	78.79 years	0.85 years
2018	77.71 years	78.64 years	0.93 years
2017	77.23 years	78.54 years	1.30 years
2016	77.21 years	78.54 years	1.33 years
2015	76.97 years	78.69 years	1.72 years
2014	76.71 years	78.84 years	2.13 years
2013	76.45 years	78.74 years	2.29 years
2012	76.20 years	78.74 years	2.54 years
2011	75.89 years	78.64 years	2.75 years
2010	75.67 years	78.54 years	2.87 years
2009	75.32 years	78.39 years	3.07 years
2008	74.83 years	78.04 years	3.21 years
2007	74.79 years	77.99 years	3.20 years
2006	74.40 years	77.69 years	3.28 years
2005	74.08 years	77.49 years	3.40 years
2004	73.73 years	77.49 years	3.76 years
2003	73.39 years	77.04 years	3.65 years
2002	73.03 years	76.94 years	3.90 years
2001	72.67 years	76.84 years	4.16 years
2000	72.29 years	76.64 years	4.35 years
1999	71.95 years	76.58 years	4.63 years
1998	71.60 years	76.58 years	4.98 years
1997	71.23 years	76.43 years	5.20 years
1996	70.82 years	76.03 years	5.20 years
1995	70.36 years	75.62 years	5.26 years
1994	69.83 years	75.62 years	5.78 years
1993	69.49 years	75.42 years	5.93 years
1992	69.06 years	75.62 years	6.56 years
1991	68.61 years	75.37 years	6.76 years
1990	68.16 years	75.21 years	7.06 years
1989	67.93 years	75.02 years	7.09 years
1988	67.61 years	74.77 years	7.16 years
1987	67.26 years	74.77 years	7.50 years
1986	66.89 years	74.61 years	7.73 years
1985	66.53 years	74.56 years	8.03 years
1984	66.15 years	74.56 years	8.42 years
1983	65.73 years	74.46 years	8.74 years
1982	65.25 years	74.36 years	9.11 years
1981	64.78 years	74.01 years	9.23 years
1980	64.24 years	73.61 years	9.37 years
1979	63.70 years	73.80 years	10.10 years
1978	63.10 years	73.36 years	10.25 years
1977	62.46 years	73.26 years	10.80 years
1976	61.23 years	72.86 years	11.63 years
1975	60.95 years	72.60 years	11.65 years
1974	60.24 years	71.96 years	11.72 years
1973	59.50 years	71.36 years	11.86 years
1972	58.58 years	71.16 years	12.58 years
1971	57.73 years	71.11 years	13.38 years
1970	56.82 years	70.81 years	13.98 years
1969	55.99 years	70.51 years	14.52 years
1968	55.19 years	69.95 years	14.76 years
1967	54.40 years	70.56 years	16.16 years
1966	53.66 years	70.21 years	16.55 years
1965	53.00 years	70.21 years	17.21 years
1964	52.34 years	70.17 years	17.82 years
1963	51.67 years	69.92 years	18.25 years
1962	50.96 years	70.12 years	19.16 years
1961	40.16 years	70.27 years	30.11 years
1960	33.42 years	69.77 years	36.35 years

Life Expectancy Comparison

• Current Leader: In 2024, United States recorded Life Expectancy of 78.89 years, while China recorded 78.02 years, a difference of 0.87 years.

• 1960 Baseline: China stood at 33.42 years and United States stood at 69.77 years.

• 2000–2024 Trajectory: China moved to 78.02 years (+7.9% since 2000), while United States moved to 78.89 years (+2.9% since 2000).

Historical Trends

Over the available reporting period from 1960 to 2024, China and United States followed distinct developmental paths. In 1960, China recorded 33.42 years compared to 69.77 years for United States. By 2024, the values evolved to 78.02 years and 78.89 years respectively.

Key Differences

• Absolute Gap: Difference in 2024 is 0.87 years.

• Highest Observed Year: Peak observed was 78.89 years (United States in 2024).

• Growth Trajectory: Since 2000, China achieved +7.9% since 2000, while United States achieved +2.9% since 2000.

About Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing mortality patterns stay constant.

This comparison uses standardized data from World Bank Open Data. Historical records allow analysts to trace long-term development trajectories for China and United States.

Frequently Asked Questions — Life Expectancy

What is the Life Expectancy of China?

In 2024, China's Life Expectancy was 78.02 years according to official World Bank data.

What is the Life Expectancy of United States?

In 2024, United States's Life Expectancy was 78.89 years according to official World Bank data.

Which country has a higher Life Expectancy?

In 2024, United States recorded a higher Life Expectancy of 78.89 years compared to China's 78.02 years (a difference of 0.87 years).

How has Life Expectancy changed over time for China and United States?

From 2000 to 2024, China's Life Expectancy changed by +7.9% since 2000, while United States's changed by +2.9% since 2000.

Explore China vs United States Interactively

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Data Source and Methodology

Source: World Bank Open Data. Indicator Code: SP.DYN.LE00.IN (Life Expectancy at Birth). Values represent annual life expectancy at birth for China and United States from 1960 through 2024. Missing reporting years are omitted without converting missing values to zero.