Hong Kong's health indices compare favourably with those of most developed countries. The infant mortality rate, one of the most important indicators of health, has shown a general declining trend over the past two decades and reached as low as 2.5 per thousand live births in 2004. The maternal mortality ratio has remained low for the past two decades. In 2004, there were only three cases of maternal death reported, giving a maternal mortality ratio of 6.1 per hundred thousand live births. Longevity has also improved significantly for Hong Kong people over the years. On average, a baby boy born in 2004 could expect to live 78.6 years and a baby girl 84.6 years. Life expectancy at birth is projected to reach 82.5 for men and 88.0 for women in 2033.