SINGAPORE, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Latest figures released Tuesday by Singapore's Department of statistics showed that life expectancy in the city-state continues to increase.

    A boy born in 2006 could expect to live an average of 78 years, compared to a life expectancy of 76.6 years for a boy born in 2003,according to the department.

    Females could expect to live even longer. A girl born in 2006 could expect to live an average of 82.8 year, up 1.2 years from the average of 81.6 years for a girl born in 2003.

    life expectancies at older ages have also improved. In 2006, Singapore men aged 65 could expect to live another 17 years on average, while Singapore women aged 65 in 2006 could expect to live on average 21 more years, as compared to 20 more years for women aged 65 in 2003.

    Singapore's life expectancy is lower when compared to Sweden, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan but higher than that in South Korea and Britain.