Brazil’s life expectancy up five months in one year
Brazil’s life expectancy rate increased over 2005-2006, according to IBGE (Brazilian Geography and Statistics Institute). The country’s average rose from 71.9 to 72.3 years
IBGE said the increase was a result of improvements in items like availability of health services, vaccination campaigns, medical advancements and higher education levels.
Women’s life expectancy is higher than men’s (76.1 and 68.5 years, respectively).
The federal district of Brasilia registered the highest life expectancy in the country – 75.1 years – followed by Santa Catarina (75) and Rio Grande do Sul (74.8).
Compared with 1960, when the average life expectancy in Brazil was 54.6 years, figures show an increase of nearly 18 years
While life expectancy went up, infant mortality rate fell in the 2005-2006 period (from 25.8 deaths per 1,000 live births to 24.9) – down 64 percent from 1980, when total deaths amounted to 69.1 per 1,000 live births.