Victorian men are bridging the gap for life expectancy and have overtaken the world's longest-living men—the Japanese—at the top of the world longevity table.

According to new figures released by Health Minister Bronwyn Pike a Victorian male born in 2004 can expect to live to 79.6 years, overtaking Japanese males whose average life expectancy is 78.6 years.

'However, Victorian males born in 2004 still trail females, who can expect to live 84.3 years.

'The latest new life expectancy at birth estimates show that, in Victoria, we are living in an increasingly healthy society.

'Whether estimated for Victoria as a whole in 2004, or the smallest Victorian Local Government Area (for the period 2000–2004), there is improvement.

'One of the reasons advanced for the relative improvement in male life expectancy is because more men are giving up smoking—with deaths from lung cancer falling quicker in men than in women,' Ms Pike said.

Key findings of the life expectancy survey include:

•          A male born in Victoria in 2004 can expect to live 79.6 years while a female can expect to live 84.3 years;

•          The life expectancy at birth has increased significantly by two to four years, for both males and females, regardless of socioeconomic status, between 1996 and 2004;

•          The difference in life expectancy at birth in 2004 between rural and metropolitan Victoria was 1.9 years in males (up from 1.6 years in 2003) and 1.2 years in females (down from 1.3 years in 2003);

•          Life expectancy at birth was highest in the eastern metropolitan region for both males (81.0 years) and females (85.1 years) and was significantly higher than the state estimate;

•          Life expectancy at birth for males in Gippsland, Grampians, Hume and Loddon Mallee regions and for females in Gippsland, Hume and Loddon Mallee regions were significantly below the state estimate;

•          The local government area of Nillumbik had the highest male life expectancy of 81.6 years, while Melbourne had the highest female life expectancy of 86.5 years.

'The increase in overall life expectancy among Victorians is especially heartening because it is a reflection on better health services and facilities in this state,' Ms Pike said.