The WHO World Health Statistics for 2007 show that once again Japanese women have the longest life expectancy (86 years) in the world, while men in San Marino enjoy the longest life for men (80 years).

The statistics are from 2005, and include information on mortality, morbidity, and health service coverage, as well as HIV/AIDS, child nutrition, tobacco, and mental health.

Afghanistan suffers from the joint highest infant mortality rate (IMR) worldwide; 165 per 1,000 live births, and a maternal mortality rate of 1,900 per 100,000 live births.

Sierra Leone is even worse, as it endures a MMR of 2,000 per 100,000 live births, along with an IMR of 165 per 1,000.

These figures are averages based on collected data, indicating that some areas of the countries suffer from higher rates.

The figures include data on ‘healthy life expectancy at birth’ (HALE), and make for shocking reading.

It is bad enough that Sierra Leone men and women have a life expectancy of 30 and 40 years respectively, but when HALE is considered, the figures drop to 27 and 30 years, respectively.

Many other countries in Africa have HALE for both men and women that do not exceed 40 years.