People born today will live into their eighties ... New official figures show we are living longer than ever. Picture: iStock

Despite the fact that we are fatter than ever and that obesity will chronically shorten our lives, life expectancy for males at birth rose from 80.1 in 2013 to 80.3 last year, while for females it jumped from 84.3 to 84.4, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. There are only six other countries — Japan, Italy, Switzerland, Iceland, Israel and Sweden — in the world where both men and women have a life expectancy over 80 years, Beidar Cho from the ABS said in a statement on Thursday.

“Australia has a higher life expectancy, at both the male and female level, than many similar countries to ours, such as New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.”

Reason to smile ... Australians are living longer than ever. Picture: iStockSource:istock

The people that will live longest in the country are in the ACT, which has the highest life expectancy for both females and males.

Whereas, the Northern Territory has the lowest life expectancy.

Baby born today will live into their eighties ... For the first time males born today will live beyond their eighties. Picture: ThinkstockSource:News Limited

The ageing population meant that the number of deaths recorded in the country last year was the highest ever.

AUSTRALIAN DEATH BY NUMBERS

• 153,580 registered deaths (up 4 per cent from 2013)

• 3.4 infant deaths per 1000 live births (down from 3.6)

• Male life expectancy 80.3 years (up from 80.1)

• Female life expectancy 84.4 years (up from 84.3)

• Median age at death 81.8 years (up from 81.7)

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics