Objective To analyze the change in life expectancy among Chinese residents during 2005 to 2016 and to provide a reference for developing strategies and measures on raising life expectancy of Chinese residents.

Methods The mortality rate and relevant data were collected from China Health and Family Planning Statistical Yearbook published during 2006 – 2017. Life expectancy tables for Chinese residents between 2005 and 2016 were constructed and then changes in life expectancy during the period were analyzed.

Results During the period the lowest life expectancy was 76.56 years in 2005 and the highest was 80.03 years in 2008 for urban Chinese residents, with a mean life expectancy of 78.92 ± 0.96 years; while for the rural residents the lowest was 76.17 years in 2009 and the highest 78.00 years in 2015, with a mean life expectancy of 77.10 ± 0.72 years, respectively. During the 12-year period the increment of life expectancy among Chinese residents differed by registered permanent residence, gender and age group; for urban residents, the maximum increment was 2.91 years for males of < 1 years old and 3.04 years for females of 1 – 4 and 15 – 19 years old and the minimum was – 0.55 and – 0.54 year for males and females aged ≥ 85 years; while for rural residents, the maximum increment was 1.18 years for males of 55 – 59 years old and 3.33 years for females of < 1 years old and the minimum was – 0.83 and 0.74 year for males and females aged ≥ 85 years, respectively.

Conclusion At present, the increment in overall life expectancy of Chinese population is mainly affected by the life span of rural male residents and the elderly population aged ≥ 85 years.