The average life expectancy of Beijing citizens has reached 80.09 years, the longest in China, and 4.24 years higher than in 2001, said a China urban life quality report released on Wednesday.

The report, submitted by Beijing international urban development institute, was completed after a two-year survey of 773,325 people in China's 287 cities.

Beijing women live longer than Beijing men - on average 81.76 years, up 3.86 years on the 2001 figure.

Statistics from the National Statistics Bureau said the national average life expectancy was 71.9 years at the end of 2005.

Lian Yuming, head of the institute, said worldwide people live longest in Japan and Sweden where life expectancy is 84 to 85 years.

"Though the life expectancy of Beijingers is a bit lower than that, it is close to the average of most developed countries in the world," said Lian.

The expert said Beijing citizens' long life is partly due to the capital city's modern medical services and equipment as well as a relatively complete social welfare system.

The report also identified problems of most concern to Chinese urban residents.

About 35 percent of respondees said they could not stand skyrocketing housing prices. The worsening public security situation and increasing unemployment are also problems that worry urban residents.

(Xinhua News Agency September 21, 2006)