SWITZERLAND Longevity: Kiwis in 12th Place

May 21, 03:33 PM

Current Headlines: A BOY born in the mountain enclave of San Marino in northeast Italy will likely live to 80, the world's longest male life expectancy; but newborn girls in Japan and 30 other countries have even better prospects, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s "World Health Statistics 2007".

Sierra Leone registered the shortest male life expectancy at 37 years - the same as for girls in Swaziland, the bottom of the female list.

Females in Japan - who traditionally lead the world tables - have a life expectancy of 86, the same as in last year's WHO statistics.

San Marino men, who were tied with Japanese men last year at 79, have added a year to go top of the list.

Following San Marino on the male side were Australia, Iceland, Japan, Sweden and Switzerland at 79 years and then Canada, Israel, Italy, Monaco and Singapore at 78. New Zealand was tied for 12th place at 77 years with a group of countries including France and Britain.

Countries with long-living women include Monaco, 85 years, and Andorra, Australia, France, Italy, San Marino, Spain and Switzerland at 84. Canada tied with Iceland and Sweden at 83 years for women, and Germany was in a group at 82 years. Britain came in at 81 years and the United States tied for 32nd place with Costa Rica and Denmark at 80 years.

Afghanistan has the highest infant mortality rate of 165 in 1000 live births, compared with the two babies who die per 1000 born in Singapore or Iceland.

-- AP

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