A child is weighed at the Start of Summer, a custom originating from the Three Kingdoms Period (220-180). [Photo/WeChat account: zjzsrbs]

The average life expectancy in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, stood at 81.45 years in 2021, according to the Zhoushan Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

This is 0.94 years longer than in 2020. Men were expected to live 78.95 years while women were expected to live 83.99 years.

The average life expectancy in Zhoushan is much higher than the global life expectancy of 73.3 years old published by the WHO, as well as some developed countries, including the United Kingdom, Finland, and Germany.

Life expectancy is a statistical measure of the average time an organism is expected to live, based on the year of its birth, its current age, and other demographic factors.

In 2021, the probability of early death from major chronic diseases, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, malignant tumor, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease, for Zhoushan residents aged between 30 and 69 was 10.56 percent.

This is an important indicator recommended by the WHO to evaluate the chronic disease prevention and control capabilities in a country or a region.

"Chronic diseases can be prevented and treated," said an employee at the Zhoushan Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

He noted that the cause of these diseases is mainly attributed to personal habits, including bad diet, lack of exercise, smoking, and excessive drinking.

Zhoushan has in recent years attached heavy importance to the prevention and control of chronic diseases by promoting healthy lifestyles and launching the Healthy Zhoushan campaign.