BEIJING -- The life expectancy of Chinese citizens rose to 77.3 years in 2019, compared with 35 years in 1949, according to a white paper released Thursday.

The white paper on the practice of the Communist Party of China in respecting and protecting human rights was released by the State Council Information Office.

The maternal and perinatal mortality rate dropped to 17.8 per 100,000, and the infant mortality rate to 5.6 per 1,000, figures from the white paper showed.

"Main health indicators (in China) were generally higher than the average level of middle- and high-income countries," it said, noting that the protection of women and children's rights to life and health has been extended considerably.