Zimbabweans are living longer than they did 10 years ago, according to report on mortality published on Tuesday.
The Preliminary Report on Mortality and Orphanhood published by the Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency (ZIMSTAT) showed that life expectancy jumped from 60.7 years to 64.7 years between 2012 and 2022.
“During the height of the HIV and AIDS pandemic, Zimbabwe’s life expectancy fell to 44 years in 2002. It jumped to 60 in 2012 and then now stands at 64.7 in 2022,” ZIMSTAT director general Taguma Mahonde said while presenting the report in Harare.
He said females had a higher life expectancy of 68 years than males who lived an average of 61.2 years.
“Life expectancy at birth was 64.7 years for both sexes combined,” the official said.
According to Mahonde, the 2022 population census had established that life expectancy at birth was higher in urban areas (65.5 years) than in rural areas (63.3 years).
Life expectancy is the average number of years a person is expected to live.
JN/APA