Key points from article :
A new analysis has revealed a stark north-south divide in life expectancy across the UK, with men living an average of four years less than women. Research from the Centre for Ageing Better found that, between 2021 and 2023, the average life expectancy at birth was 79 years for men and 83 years for women. However, wealth and location play significant roles in shaping these figures.
The 2025 State of Ageing report highlights that men in the poorest areas of England live 4.4 years less than those in the wealthiest regions, while the gap for women is 3.7 years. The lowest life expectancy is found in the North East, where men and women live, on average, 77.4 and 81.4 years, respectively. Blackpool has the lowest life expectancy for both men (73.1 years) and women (78.9 years), while the highest figures are in the South East—80.3 years for men—and in Kensington and Chelsea for women (86.5 years).
The report also underscores that inequality in life expectancy is worsening, with economic hardship, austerity, and the cost-of-living crisis deepening health disparities. Dr. Carole Easton OBE, Chief Executive of the Centre for Ageing Better, warns that these regional inequalities are a “matter of life and death,” calling for urgent government action, including the appointment of a Commissioner for Older People and Ageing. Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Social Care insists that its Plan for Change aims to address these disparities by focusing on prevention and early intervention.
