National life expectancy may vary by 15 years

Press, 2 June 1984, Page 5

National life expectancy may vary by 15 years

NZPA-AP Washington Newborn babies in developed nations can expect to outlive babies arriving in Third World countries by 15 years, according to population estimates by the Population Reference Bureau. The private, Washingtonbased study group said Iceland residents have the highest life expectancy at 77 years, while it is only 40 years for newborns in Ethiopia, Chad and Afghanistan. New Zealand residents' life expectancy, at 72 years, is slightly less than most European countries. The bureau’s study estimated the world’s population at nearly 4.8 billion this year, up almost 85 million

from 1983. Here are selected countries from the Population Reference Bureau’s list of nations, their 1984 populations, and the estimated life expectancy at birth. Argentina, 29.1 M, 70; Australia, 15.5 M, 75; Austria, 7.6 M, 73; Bahrain, 0.4 M, 66; Bangladesh, 99.6 M, 47; Brazil, 134.4 M, 63; Kampuchea, 61.1 M, 43; Chile, 11.9 M, 68; China, 1.034.5 M, 65; Cuba, 9.9 M, 74; Egypt, 47M, 56; El Salvador, 4.8 M, 64; Ethiopia, 32M, 40; Fiji, 0.7 M, 62; France, 54.8 M, 74; Germany (East), 16.7 M, 72; Germany (West), 61.4 M, 74; Greece, 10M, 73; Hong Kong, 5.4 M, 73; India, 746.4 M, 50; In-

donesia, 161.6 M, 49; Iran, 43.8 M, 55; Iraq, 15M, 56; Ireland, 3.6 M, 73; Israel, 4.2 M, 74; Italy, 57M, 73; Japan, 119.9 M, 76; Jordan, 3.5 M, 61; Kuwait, 1.6 M, 70; Lebanon, 2.6 M, 66; Malaysia, 15.3 M, 64; Nepal, 16.6 M. 44; Netherlands, 14.4 M, 76; New Zealand, 3.2 M, 72; Nicaragua, 2.9 M, 56; Saudi Arabia, 10.8 M, 55; Singapore, 2.5 M, 71; South Africa, 31.7 M, 61; Soviet Union, 274 M, 69; Spain, 38.4 M, 73; Switzerland, 6.5 M, 75; Syria, 10.1 M, 66; Taiwan, 19.2 M, 72; Thailand, 51.7 M, 61; Tunisia, 7M, 59; Uganda, 14.3 M, 54; United Kingdom, 56.5 M, 73; United States, 236.3 M, 74; Vietnam, 58.3 M, 66; Yugoslavia, 23M, 70; Zimbabwe, 8.3 M, 53.