Life expectancy in Russia may reach 76 years by 2025 - Putin
MOSCOW. March 21 (Interfax) - Average life expectancy in Russia should top 75 years by 2025, President Vladimir Putin said.
"We have every opportunity to increase life expectancy in Russia to 76 years by 2025 and to significantly reduce the mortality rate for able-bodied ages," Putin said at a meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and Priority Projects.
Life expectancy in Russia has been demonstrating an upward trend.
"At present, it approaches 72 years. Life expectancy in Russia grew by 6.5 years over 12 years, from 65.4 in 2005 to 71.87 in 2016," Putin said.
In particular, the indicator grew by 7.7 years for men and 4.6 years for women, he said.
"Over the same period, the infant mortality rate declined from 10.2 to 6 per 1,000 newborns, and even 5.1 was recorded in January," Putin said.
The maternal mortality rate has fallen by more than two-thirds, he said.
Nevertheless, mortality rates for able-bodied ages are somewhat alarming, he said.
"Mortality rates grew for able-bodied ages in 2015; there is nothing critical about it, but we should still pay attention," Putin said.