Home / Comparisons / China vs Australia Life expectancy
China vs Australia Life expectancy
Australia has held the lead throughout the published window. In 1960 China stood at roughly 47% of Australia’s Life expectancy; today the figure is about 94%, and the pair was closest in 2019 (94%).
| Year | China | Australia | Australia as % of China |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 70.82 | 33.42 | 47% |
| 1970 | 71.02 | 56.82 | 80% |
| 1980 | 74.33 | 64.24 | 86% |
| 1990 | 76.99 | 68.16 | 89% |
| 2000 | 79.23 | 72.29 | 91% |
| 2010 | 81.7 | 75.67 | 93% |
| 2020 | 83.2 | 78.02 | 94% |
| 2024 | 83.05 | 78.02 | 94% |
Frequently asked questions
When did Australia pass China in Life expectancy?
It has not come to that. Australia has posted the larger Life expectancy in every published year (1960–2024).
How do China and Australia compare today?
Australia is ahead: 83.05 against 78.02 — the trailing economy stands at about 94% of the leader.
Are these Life expectancy figures nominal or adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — years — with no interpolation or estimation for missing years.
Full series
Every published year for both economies, with charts, downloads and citations: