06 December 2006

People in NSW are living well and living longer

Babies born in NSW today are expected to live until 80 years old on average, NSW Minister for Health John Hatzistergos announced today.

Mr Hatzistergos said new figures from the forthcoming Chief Health Officer's Report show that NSW residents are living longer and enjoying better health with our life expectancy in the world's top four countries.

"In 2004, life expectancy at birth was 78.9 years for males and 83.7 years for females; this has increased by 12.1 years in men and 10 years in women since 1970.

"The Iemma Government is making real progress with advanced healthcare and technology alongside health promotion strategies like quit smoking, vaccination and BreastScreen leading to decreased deaths from cancer and heart disease, falling infant mortality and increased life expectancy.

"A massive $11.7 billion investment in health by the Iemma Government is helping people stay healthy and live longer, providing more beds, more doctors, nurses and ambulance officers, more elective surgery and new ways to access health services and see a doctor," he said.

Other life expectancy key findings include:

• Life expectancy at birth continues to increase - by 12.1 years in men and 10.0 years in women since 1970.
• The gap in life expectancy between males and females is closing.
• In 2004, Australia was third in the world for male life expectancy (behind Switzerland, Japan equal first and Iceland) and fifth for females (Japan, Switzerland, Spain France).
• Around 85,600 babies were born in NSW in 2004. Male babies could expect to live 78.9 years while female babies could expect to live 83.7 years.
• The age-adjusted death rate in NSW decreased by more than half (51 per cent) in the 33-year period 1972 to 2004.
• The death rate in babies aged less than one year (infant mortality rate) has declined considerably, to 4.6 per 1,000 live births in 2004 (lower than the national average).
• Although females born in NSW in 2004 could still expect to live longer than males, this difference decreased from 6.8 years in 1972 to 4.8 years in 2004.

But Mr Hatzistergos warned that the growing obesity epidemic threatens to cut the life expectancy of our newest generations.

"Obesity is a tsunami which will swamp us unless we take action. In NSW 25 per cent of children are now overweight or obese.*

"We cannot let our children be the first generation to live shorter lives than their parents."

*Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPANS)

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au