Life expectancy in poorer areas of UK drastically lower

Research released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed stark differences in life expectancy between the poorest and wealthiest areas of the UK. 

The study found that between 2018 and 2020, males living in the most deprived areas were living 9.7 years fewer than males living in the least deprived areas. 

Females living in the most deprived areas were also found to live 7.9 years fewer and both sexes saw a significant increase in life expectancy inequality from 2015 to 2017. 

Additionally, the number of years people were living without health conditions was greatly reduced in poorer parts of the country. 

Women in these areas were expected to live healthily for 19.3 years less than those in the least deprived areas in 2018 to 2020, while men lived healthily for 18.6 years fewer. 

David Finch, Assistant Director of Healthy Lives at the Health Foundation, said:

‘Data released today by the ONS shows the uneven impact of the pandemic with greater falls in life expectancy in the poorest areas of England compared to the wealthiest. It also highlights that in the most deprived areas, people are living more of their life in ill health. Girls born in the poorest areas of England live 19 fewer years in good health than those born in the wealthiest. A staggering difference in life chances. 

‘The recent levelling up white paper reiterated the government ambition to improve healthy life expectancy by five years by 2035, while narrowing the gap between the experience of the richest and poorest. Our analysis has shown that a return to pre-pandemic trends would mean this improvement takes 192 years to achieve.  

‘Reducing these stark inequalities requires a fundamental shift towards a whole-government approach that actively improves the conditions needed to create good health, such as adequate incomes to cope with the rising cost of living, secure jobs and decent housing. The upcoming disparities white paper presents a clear opportunity to move beyond the rhetoric and into action.’

The study by ONS also found that women living in the most deprived areas of the UK were expected to live less than two-thirds (66.3%) of their lives in good health, compared to more than four-fifths (82.0%) for those in the least. 

Photo by Jack Finnigan