A new interactive map from the Daily Mail allows readers to see how many years they’ll spend in good health, according to where they live.
Unlike lifespan, which simply measures how long someone is likely to live, healthy life expectancy refers to the average number of years a person can expect to live in good health — without chronic illness, disability or cognitive decline.
And according to new statistics, it can be measured simply by looking at someone’s postcode.
Figures show those living in the most deprived areas die almost ten years earlier than those living in more affluent postcodes.
Girls born in Kensington and Chelsea, one of London‘s most affluent boroughs, between 2022 and 2024 are expected to live until they are 87, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
But it’s not just that they’re living longer. These girls are expected to spend nearly 80 per cent of their life in good health, whilst those in the most deprived areas will only get 48 healthy years.
Longevity for boys is highest in Hart, meanwhile, where they are expected to reach just shy of 84.
On the other end of the scale, boys in Blackpool are predicted to only reach their 73rd birthday, while girls in Glasgow are only expected to live until 78.
The ONS data also shows inequality of life expectancy across the three nations remained higher than it was pre-pandemic.
Life expectancy has also increased across England, compared with previous figures.
However in the most deprived areas, people are still dying earlier than they did before the pandemic.
In these areas, including parts of Liverpool and Manchester, boys are expected to only get 50 healthy years, almost 20 less than those living in more affluent areas.
In the most deprived areas of Wales, the stats are even bleaker — with women spending 23 fewer years in good health than those living in more sought-after areas.
The data covers a period in which Britain was plunged into a cost of living crisis, which experts have warned increases the risk of cold-related deaths, as fuel costs skyrocket.
The estimates are based on period life expectancy, a hypothetical measure that assumes the mortality rate between 2022 and 2024 applies through a person’s life.
Calculating male and female rates separately, it uses the death registrations in the period from 2023 to 2025 for each age group, the probability of death and numbers of people surviving in each group.
According to the analysts, boys and girls born in the least deprived areas of England are expected to live the longest, healthiest lives, getting around 69 healthy years —83 and 79 per cent of their lives respectively — before their health starts to decline.
Stark divides remain between the North and South. The majority of local areas with the highest life expectancy fell in the South of England among both men and women.
Experts have blamed the drop in life expectancy in the most deprived areas compared to before the pandemic on the cost-of-living crisis, an increase in vaccination hesitancy and unhealthy lifestyles.
Researchers have also warned cuts to winter fuel payments — which forced people to choose between staying warm, eating and managing the stress of debt — can worsen health in the long run.
Whilst research suggested life expectancy will increase by almost five years by 2050, with the average man living to 76 and woman past 80, analysis suggested that vulnerability to the cold has increased over the last give years — with experts pointing the finger at fuel poverty and mounting pressure on the NHS.
These pressures can increase the risk of circulatory diseases, dementia, flu, pneumonia and chronic respiratory conditions — with those living in the most deprived areas facing barriers to potentially life-saving care.
More people also died of dementia than expected in this time period, with patients continuing to face a postcode lottery of care as the NHS fails to hit diagnosis targets — increasing the risk of rapid decline and even death.
According to Lancet research, global healthy life expectancy — the average number of years a person can expect to live in good health — will reach 67.4 years by 2050.
This suggests that while more people are expected to live longer, they are expected to spend more years in poor health.
Figures have consistently shown that the number of years lost due to poor health and premature death attributable to metabolic risk factors, such as high blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and BMI is on the rise.
Air pollution, smoking, plastic pollution and ultra-processed foods are all thought to contribute to the toll.
