Blackpool replaces Glasgow as area of Britain with lowest life expectancy for men
A seaside town in northern England has replaced Glasgow as having the lowest life expectancy for men at birth – the first time the Scottish city has not recorded the lowest estimate since current data began.
A baby boy born in Blackpool, Lancashire, between 2021 and 2023 is currently likely to live for an average of 73.1 years, while one born in Glasgow is likely to live for 73.6 years.
Glasgow had previously recorded the lowest life expectancy for males in every set of estimates since the time series started in 2001.
The figures have been published by Office for National Statistics (ONS) and show a clear geographical divide.
The top 10 highest local area male life expectancies are all in the south of England, while six of the lowest 10 are in Scotland and three are in the north of England.
Top 10 areas with the lowest life expectancy for men in Britain include:
Glasgow
West Dunbartonshire
Dundee
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
East Ayrshire
Blackpool
Manchester
Hull
Merthyr Tydfil
Hart in Hampshire has the highest estimated male life expectancy at birth for 2021-23 at 83.4 years, followed by Uttlesford in Essex with 83, 82.5 for Wokingham in Berkshire and Richmond-upon-Thames in London.
Glasgow remains the area in Britain with the lowest female life expectancy, with a baby girl born in 2021-23 currently likely to live for 78.3 years, followed by the Scottish local authorities of East Ayrshire (78.6) and North Lanarkshire (78.7) and then Blackpool (78.9).
The Top 10s for females shows a similar pattern to those for males, with the 10 highest estimates all in southern England, while the 10 lowest estimates are split between Scotland, northern England and Wales.
Top 10 areas with the lowest life expectancy for women in Britain include:
Glasgow
East Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
West Dunbartonshire
Dundee
North Ayrshire
Inverclyde
Blackpool
Knowsley
Blaenau Gwent
The highest female life expectancy for baby girls born in 2021-23 is for Kensington & Chelsea in London, followed by Richmond-upon-Thames, Winchester in Hampshire and Uttlesford.
The ONS figures also show that life expectancy at birth in 2021-23 remained lower than before the Covid-19 pandemic in a majority of areas for both males and females.
Greg Ceely, ONS head of population health monitoring, said: “Today’s data show a decline in life expectancy in most areas during 2021 to 2023, compared with the period of 2017 to 2019.
“This suggests we are yet to see a recovery from the decrease in life expectancy we saw during the pandemic. Our results continue to show a clear geographical divide.
“For example, in England, male life expectancy in the South East is three years higher than in the North East, and female life expectancy 2.7 years higher in London compared to the North East.
“Taking Great Britain as a whole, for the first time since this time series began, Blackpool, not Glasgow, has the lowest male life expectancy. Glasgow continues to have the lowest female life expectancy.”
The estimates of life expectancy for babies born in 2021-23 will reflect the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which contributed to a higher-than-average number of deaths in this period.
But while the pandemic disrupted the small improvements in life expectancy seen between 2010 and 2019, it does not necessarily mean a baby born between 2021 and 2023 will go on to live a shorter life than one born between 2017 and 2019.
“If mortality rates improve in the future, then period life expectancy will increase,” the ONS added.
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