Average life expectancy exceeds 72 years in Russia

For the first time, the average life expectancy in Russia exceeded 72 years, Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets has said.

"In the first half of 2017, the average life expectancy in Russia has reached 72.4 for the first time," Xinhua news agency quoted Golodete as saying.

The average life expectancy grew by six months compared with 2016, she said.

According to Golodets, consistent work aimed at decreasing the mortality was the key factor behind the life expectancy growth. In the first half of 2017, the mortality rate had decreased to 12.9 per 1,000 people compared with 13.2 in the same period of 2016.