Bangladesh sees another rise in the life expectancy at birth of its population by three months, making it 72.3 years in 2018 from 72 years in the previous year.
The gain in life expectancy is higher among the females (73.8 years) than that of the males (70.8 years).
The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) revealed the data on Wednesday in its report on Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics 2018.
Planning Minister M A Mannan was present as the chief guest at the report launching programme at BBS auditorium in the city. Nojibur Rahman, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), was present as the special guest.
The BBS report has showed that estimated population of the country until January 2019 is 165.57 million. Of the
total population, male is 82.87 million and female 82.70 million. The population was 164.6 million until July 2018 and 162.7 million in 2017.
The age structure of the population is still conducive to high fertility, with 28.8 per cent of its total population is aged under 15 years.
The BBS report also has revealed that Bangladeshi women are still dominated by their male counterpart. The number of male-headed households is significantly higher (85.8 per cent) than the female-headed households (14.2 per cent).
Besides, both literacy rate and adult literacy rate have increased in the country.
On the other hand, child death rate (per thousand) and maternal mortality rate have declined.
Project director Ashraful Haque presented the key findings of the report.
Mr Ashraf said the life expectancy of the females was lower than the males in last 10 years. But improvement in women's diet and nutrition situation has increased their life expectancy. They are now biologically more sound and have less hypertension.
He also said the social and economic indicators of Bangladesh are now better than any other South Asian countries, except for some indicators of Sri Lanka.
The BBS collected data from 01 January to 31 December of 2018 in 2,012 sample units to prepare the report. Total population of the sample units was over 1.25 million, he added.
M A Mannan said the report findings are very much honest. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is committed to maintaining credibility of the BBS data.
He, however, observed that the rate of open defecation in the country is 2.0 per cent of the total population, which is still high.
Nojibur Rahman said people are now getting good education and healthcare, and their living standard is also improving. This has resulted in the enhanced life expectancy.
The indicators of the report are the outcome of the plans and programmes, undertaken by the government, he added.
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