Himachal and Punjab surpass national life expectancy average, Haryana lags behind: Report
Kerala continues to top the national list with the highest life expectancy at 74.8 years, while Chhattisgarh remains at the bottom with 64.4 years. Other high-performing states and Union Territories include Delhi (74.6 years), Jammu and Kashmir (74.1 years), and Himachal Pradesh.
Punjab has outperformed several larger states such as Uttar Pradesh (67.2 years) and Madhya Pradesh (67.4 years), and is at par with Uttarakhand (70.8 years). Tamil Nadu (73.0 years), Maharashtra (72.5 years), and West Bengal (72.1 years) are among those with higher figures than Punjab.
The report notes that women in Punjab have an average life expectancy of 73.1 years, while for men it stands at 68.9 years. This results in a female-to-male life expectancy ratio of 1.06, a significant shift from 1970–75 when men outlived women.
Urban areas continue to show a clear advantage, with a life expectancy of 73.3 years (75.1 for females and 71.9 for males), compared to 69.2 years in rural areas (71.8 for females and 66.9 for males). This urban-rural gap, however, has narrowed considerably since the 1970–75 period.
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Himachal and Punjab surpass national life expectancy average, Haryana lags behind: Report
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In addition to focused attention on increasing vaccination coverage, India's Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) embodies a comprehensive range of vaccines recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Till 2013, there were only six available vaccines in the program. From 2014, six new vaccines (namely Inactivated Polio-virus Vaccine, Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV), Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), Measles-Rubella Vaccine, Adult Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine and Tetanus-Diphtheria Vaccine) have been introduced in the programme. Currently, India's UIP covers 12 vaccine-preventable diseases and has seen significant expansion. With continued focus on improving vaccine coverage, India has taken a proactive and inclusive approach to reach underserved populations. 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Some key initiatives include: Zero Dose Implementation Plan 2024: Rolled out across 143 districts in 11 states with a high burden of unvaccinated children. Mission Indradhanush (Since 2014): Intensified in 2017 in collaboration with state governments, it has vaccinated 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women previously unreached or under-vaccinated. Pulse Polio Campaigns: Through National Immunization Days (NIDs) and Sub-National Immunization Days (SNIDs), India has maintained polio-free status since 2014. Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs): Organized regularly for immunization and outreach activities at the community level. Multi-tiered Task Forces: State (STFI), District (DTFI), and Block (BTFI) level task forces ensure coordinated and effective implementation. Regular IEC (Information, Education, Communication) Campaigns: Help increase awareness and combat vaccine hesitancy. The annual birth cohort in India (2.6 crore) exceeds the total population of several countries, including New Zealand, Australia, Finland, and Switzerland. Given the varying sizes of the countries across the globe, the percentage comparison shows it at par with the vaccination coverage levels observed in many high-income countries for e.g., New Zealand (DTP-1 93%), Germany & Finland (DPT-3 91%), Sweden (MCV-1 93%), Luxembourg (MCV-2 90%), Ireland (PCV-3 83%), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Rota C 90%). ( WUNEIC report 2023). The comparative results of countries on zero dose children as a percentage of the total population shows that Yemen (1.68%), Sudan (1.45%), Angola (1.1%), Afghanistan (1.1%), Nigeria (0.98%), DR Congo (0.82%), Ethiopia (0.72%), Indonesia (0.23%), Pakistan (0.16%) have far more zero dose children as a percentage of their population compared to India's (0.11% during 2023 as per the last Wuneic report released. Any comparison of India with any other countries with high burden zero-dose children needs to take into consideration India's large population size and high vaccination coverage rate. Therefore, any interpretation or analysis based on isolated factors does not lend credence to the country's progress on its immunisation program, said the ministry. The Universal immunisation program has always been prioritised by the Government of India to ensure that the children of our country are protected against deadly diseases. Elimination of Polio in 2014 and Maternal & Neonatal Tetanus in 2015, and the recent launch of the Measles Rubella campaign in 2025 is a testament to the fact. With focused strategies and committed healthcare workers, the endeavour will always be last-mile delivery to ensure comprehensive vaccination coverage. Vaccination remains one of the most powerful and cost-effective public health interventions. India's unwavering commitment to immunization is evident through its Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), which provides free vaccination services annually to 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore infants (0-1 year).
