Taiwan's Life Expectancy 3rd Longest in Asia

The life span of Taiwanese people averages 79.12 years, the third longest in Asia, with life expectancy being 75.96 years for males and 82.47 for females, according to a census conducted by the Ministry of the Interior (MOI).

According to the census results, over 90% of Taiwanese females live more than 65 years and half more than 85.

The MOI compiles the island's demographic statistics every 10 years. The current compilation, its 10th, was based on data collected during the period of 2009-2011; compared with the 9th compilation a decade ago, Taiwan's life expectancy is up 2.17 years for males and 2.84 years for females, implying an average annual increase of 0.2 years for men and 0.3 years for women.

At the end of August this year Taiwanese people aged 65 years and older accounted for 11.81% of the island's total population, which means that an average of 6.2 persons aged between 14-65 have to support one person aged 65 or over. The ratio of those aged 65 and over is forecast to exceed 14% in 2018 and 20% in 2025.

Today Taiwan's top three killer diseases are cancer, heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease, which together killed more than 200,000 persons last year, the majority of them males. Without the deaths caused by these diseases, Taiwan's life expectancy would increase 4.16 years for males and 2.88 years for females.

Taiwan's average life expectancy is lower than that of the U.S., most European countries , Japan, South Korea, and Singapore; but higher than that of Indonesia, the Philippines, and mainland China. (JL)