People in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh live longer than their counterparts in the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana. As per the ‘SRS-Based Abridged Life Tables 2020-24’, the life expectancy at birth in Himachal is 74.7 years, which is second only to Kerala in the country. Kerala has a life expectancy of 75.6 years.
The life expectancy measures the average number of years a person is expected to live under prevailing mortality conditions.
The data was released by the Registrar General of India and the Census Commissioner, India, on May 20.
Another Himalayan state, Jammu and Kashmir, ranks third with a life expectancy of 74.6 years, followed by Delhi at 73.9 years.
Punjab has a life expectancy of 71 years and is ranked 11 in the country.
In Haryana, the life expectancy is 68.9 years, which is lower than even the national average of 70.6 years. It has the fourth-worst life expectancy in the country.
On why people from Himachal live longer than those in Punjab and Haryana, health economist Prof Aswini Kumar Nanda reasoned, “The higher life expectancy depends on socio-economic factors and access to health facilities. Himachal has better access to health facilities compared to Haryana and Punjab. Better health facilities delay deaths. Road accident deaths and infant mortality rates are lower too in HP.”
He added, “Literacy rate and awareness about health are better in Himachal. The standard of living is good and there is less poverty.”
Nanda pointed out that similar factors were responsible for higher life expectancy in Jammu and Kashmir as well.
Himachal cares more for health than Punjab and Haryana
As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, Himachal spent 5.9 per cent of its total expenditure on health in 2020-21, which rose to 6.2 per cent in 2021-22 and 6.9 per cent in 2022-23. It fell to 5.9 per cent in 2023-24, and as per revised estimates for 2024-25, it was 6.1 per cent. In the 2025-26 budget estimates, it was 5.8 per cent.
On the other hand, Punjab spent merely 3.7 per cent of its total expenditure on health in 2020-21, which fell to 3.2 per cent in 2021-22. It further fell to 2.7 per cent in 2022-24, marginally rose to 3 per cent in the revised estimates for 2024-25, and to 3.2 per cent in the budget estimates for 2025-26.
In comparison, Haryana spent 5.2 per cent of the total expenditure on health in 2020-23, which fell to 4.4 per cent in 2023-24. It was 5 per cent in the revised estimates for 2024-25. In the budget estimates for 2025-26, it was merely 4.7 per cent.
As per the National Health Accounts for 2022-23, released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on May 27, the total per capita health expenditure in Himachal, including out-of-pocket and government spending, is Rs 10,200, the second-highest in the country. Kerala tops the country in per capita health expenditure at Rs 13,116. In Punjab, it is Rs 6,321, and in Haryana, it is Rs 7,664.
“HP gives priority to health, which is evident in health expenditure on health. But Kerala, in comparison to HP, has better health facilities in both the public and private sectors. In HP, people usually come to Chandigarh for treatment,” explained Prof Nanda.
Life expectancy in Himachal Pradesh
The life expectancy in Himachal has risen by 0.3 years, from 74.4 years in 2019-2023 to 74.7 years in 2020-2024.
In rural Himachal Pradesh, it is 74.5 years, while in urban areas, it is slightly higher at 76.1 years.
In urban areas of the state, male life expectancy is higher at 75 years, while in rural areas it is 71 years. On the other hand, rural females (78.5 years), live longer than those in urban areas (77.1 years).
The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), a crude indicator of the overall health scenario in the state, for urban areas in 2024 was 11 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. In rural areas, it was 12.
In the period 1970-75, Himachal had a lower life expectancy at 52.6 years, while Haryana had 57.5 years and Punjab had 57.9 years. However, there was an annual increase of 0.34 years in males’ life expectancy and 0.56 years in females’ life expectancy, bringing Himachal ahead of Punjab and Haryana.
Life expectancy in Punjab
The life expectancy in Punjab has risen by 0.2 years, from 70.8 years in 2019-2023 to 71 years in 2020-2024.
In rural Punjab, it is 69.7 years; however, in urban areas, it is higher at 72.8 years. The figure for urban areas is lower than the national average of 73.2 years.
The life expectancy of a rural male in Punjab, at 67.1 years, is lower than the national average of 67.4 years. Similarly, urban females’ life expectancy in the state is 74.3 years, lower than the all-India figure of 75.1 years.
The Infant Mortality Rate in Punjab for 2024 was 16 infant deaths per thousand live births; in rural areas, it was 17.
Life expectancy in Haryana
The life expectancy in Haryana has risen by merely 0.1 years, from 68.8 years in 2019-2023 to 68.9 years in 2020-2024.
In Haryana, the male life expectancy is 66.1 years, while that of females is 72.3 years. Both are below the national average of 68.7 years for males and 72.8 years for females.
In rural areas, the life expectancy is 68.2 years, with males at 65 years and women at 72.2 years. In urban areas of Haryana, life expectancy is higher at 70 years, owing to better healthcare facilities, with males at 67.9 years and females at 72.4 years.
The Infant Mortality Rate in Haryana in 2024 was 24 infant deaths per thousand live births, while in rural areas, it was higher at 27.
