The average life expectancy of residents in Beijing increased nearly two years in the last 10 years, according to a report by the city's health bureau, the Beijing News reported on Thursday.

The life expectancy of Beijing's residents was 81.35 years last year, 7.85 years more than the national average, and in 2003, the life expectancy was 79.62 years, according to the report.

The average life expectancy of male Beijing residents in 1979 was only 69.51 years, and 72.26 years for females.