UK Life Expectancy Gaps Exceed 10 Years by Region

New data from the Office for National Statistics reveals significant variations in life expectancy across the United Kingdom, with gaps of more than 10 years between the highest and lowest areas. The figures, released this week, show that location plays a key role in determining how long people can expect to live, underscoring deep regional health disparities.

For males born last year, the lowest life expectancy stands at 73.9 years in Blackpool, northwest England, while the highest reaches 84.6 years in Hart, Hampshire, in the south. This creates the widest gap in the UK at 10.7 years. For females, the disparity is slightly narrower at 8.8 years, with the lowest figure of 78.9 years in Glasgow, Scotland, and the highest of 87.7 years in Kensington and Chelsea, London.

The data highlights a clear north-south divide. The 10 local authority areas with the highest life expectancies for both males and females are all located in southern England, including parts of London and the South East. In contrast, the 10 lowest are concentrated in northern England and Scotland. Scotland records the UK's lowest regional averages, with males at 77.4 years and females at 81.3 years. The North...