TAIYUAN, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- The health of women and children in China has been improving, according to the latest statistics.

In 2016, the national infant mortality was 7.5 out of 1,000, 76.7 percent lower than that in 2000. Meanwhile, the percentage of hospital births stood at 99.7 percent last year, 36.9 percent higher than in 2000, said Li Li, a researcher at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

The average life expectancy of women in China reached 79.4 years in 2016, according to official figures.

"The health of women and infants is extremely important for the health of mankind, and China has made improvements in the regard in recent years," said Peng Jiong with the United Nations Population Fund.