[Current life expectancy in Chile]

An increased life expectancy is associated to a nation's progress. Life expectancy at birth is 78 years in developed countries, 72 in Latin America, 70 in China, 63 in Eastern Europe and 51 in Africa. Chile is the Latin American country with the higher increment in life expectancy, reaching 75 years at birth, during the period 1990-95. A higher life expectancy is not always an advantage. People over 60 years old may survive with a burden of chronic diseases or physical and mental disability. The higher health care needs of the increasing population of elderly people is raising the costs of health care in modern nations.