Children enjoy outdoor activities at Chuanying District in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, June 7, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)

China's health literacy rate increased from 10.25 percent in 2015 to 19.17 percent in 2019, and the index has doubled by the end of this year during the 13th Five-Year Plan (FYP) period (2016-2020), China's National Health Commission told a press briefing on Wednesday.

Health literacy refers to a person's ability to gain and comprehend health information and acquire relevant services to make appropriate health decisions.

Speaking at a press briefing on China's health development during the 13th (FYP) period, Yu Xuejun, deputy head of the commission, said China's health indicators are generally better than the average of medium- and high-income nations.

The average life expectancy of Chinese citizens rose from 76.3 years at the end of 2015 to 77.3 years at the end of 2019.

The maternal mortality rate dropped from 20.1 per 100,000 to 17.8 per 100,000 over the same period, Yu added.