Life Simulator

China: what if you were born here?

Every year 8,899,881 babies are born here — 9.8% of the births across the game’s 30 countries.

78 yearsLife expectancy
54%Lived to 80
Be born hereBe born anywhere, by real birth odds

1,000 lives born here, lived by the game

Each life starts from this country’s births and makes the choices most people make. Shares of adults are of the lives that reached 30. Next to each figure: the same for babies born anywhere in the game’s 30 countries.

Average lifespan78.2 years30 countries 71.4 years
Lived to 8054%30 countries 40.5%
Ever married91.1%30 countries 93.2%
Children, on average1.0430 countries 2.54
Went to university66.5%30 countries 31.4%
Rose far above their start11.6%30 countries 7.4%
Moved abroad1.7%30 countries 2.3%

How these lives ended — the most common

  1. Stroke23.2%
  2. Ischaemic heart disease17.3%
  3. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease11.4%
  4. Other cancers7.2%
  5. Lung cancer5%

The most common work

  1. Office clerical9.3%
  2. Farming8.5%
  3. Teaching6.7%
  4. Labouring6.3%
  5. Retail5.2%

Official statistics

YearSource
Life expectancy at birth, women81 years2024World Bank WDI
Life expectancy at birth, men75.2 years2024World Bank WDI
Infant deaths per 1,000 births4.12024World Bank WDI
Deaths before 5 per 1,000 births5.72024World Bank WDI
Births per woman1.012024World Bank WDI
Income per person (GDP, PPP)$29,3332025World Bank WDI
Inequality (Gini index)362022World Bank WDI
Expected years of schooling15.5 years2023UNDP Human Development Report 2025 via Our World in Data
Living in cities66.3%2025World Bank WDI
Using the internet91.6%2025World Bank WDI
Life satisfaction (0–10)6.072025World Happiness Report
Military serviceNot compulsory2025CIA World Factbook, Military service age and obligation

Other countries

One life at a time, by real numbers

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