Mizoram experiences a phenomenal decrease in mortality rate

Aizwal, Oct 22 (UNI) Mizoram's mortality rate has gone down drastically with an increase in the people living beyond 60 years.

Official reports said the life-expectancy in state had steadily increased since 1981 and the 2001 census revealed that number of people attaining hundred years and above had risen to 167.

The population increase was 29 per cent, while, the increase in persons living beyond 60 was 43 per cent, sources said.

The increase rate was the highest among all other states, official sources said.

According to experts, women tend to live longer than men and the female birth rate was higher.

However, it was difficult to assess the state's mortality rate due to lack of data of birth and death rate per 1000 people.

''In the case of Mizoram, all we can do is quote the national average life-expectancy which is about 60 to 65 years, whereas, it was only 42 in the 1950s'', the experts added.

About 5.21 per cent of the state's total population consists of elderly ones, they added.

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