The latest figures, from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, means Canberra's men live almost a year longer than the national average, of 80.4 years. Canberra's women live about seven months longer than the national average, of 84.6 years.

Victorians are the second longest living group in the country, with men living to 81.2 years and women to 84.7

Though Canberrans may be living longer on average, pockets of the rest of the country including Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury in Sydney and Perth's north west have life expectancies that beat the ACT. Men in Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury are expected to live until 83.7 years and 87.2 years for women.

The figures show a dramatic increase in longevity in the past 125 years. In 1890 Australian men had a life expectancy of 47.2 and women of 50.8 . The numbers have increased by 33.2 years for men and 33.7 years for women.

Australian female life expectancy is now the sixth highest in the world and is the highest ever recorded. Japan tops the list with 86.4 years.

Male life expectancy remained steady, with men living longer in only two other countries in the world: Iceland at 80.6 years and Switzerland at 80.5 years, according to the bureau.

A person born in 2015 is expected to live between 33.2 years and 33.7 years longer than someone born in 1890.

According to the bureau, life expectancy improved at all ages. However, lower infant death rates contributed the most to improvements.

The decline in infant mortality rates have been linked to the development of vaccines and ensuing programs of mass vaccination, effective use of antibiotics, and improvements in public sanitation and health education

In 2016, there were 158,504 deaths in Australia. Of that, 81,867 were men and 76,637 women.

The leading cause of death was ischaemic heart disease which is 12 per cent of all deaths.