Life expectancy rates in African countries, which came dwindling down in the 90s due to the spread of the deadly HIV/AIDS virus have finally seen the light of day and have reported a meager increase in the previous couple of years. The information regarding the slight increase in life expectancy rates was revealed by the United Nations in a report presented on Wednesday.

Despite the slight increase, Africa is still reeling under immense suffering and pain. The countries in the region happen to be the only countries that have reported a fall in life expectancy rates, in comparison to the life expectancy rates that were prevalent in the part of the African continent in the early 1990s.

The worst hit, happen to be the women, whose life expectancy rates has witnessed a drastic fall. They also happen to be the most affected by the HIV virus in the Sub-Saharan African Region.

According to the report, life expectancy for women between the years 1990-95 in Southern Africa was 64 for women and 59 for men. However, the rates saw a fall in the years between 2000 and 2005, when life expectancy rates for women fell to 51 for women and 49 for men.

However, life expectancy rates have seen resurgence due to new treatments, with the expectant average life of African women climbing to 52 and 51 for men in 2005-10.

The name of the report that has provided all the information is “The World’s Women 2010”.