UK Healthy Life Expectancy Falls by Two Years Over Past Decade

Apr 27, 2026

The United Kingdom's healthy life expectancy has fallen by approximately two years over the past decade to just under 61 years for both men and women, according to Health Foundation analysis of Office for National Statistics data comparing 2022-24 to 2012-2014. The decline, driven by poverty, poor housing, obesity, and the Covid pandemic's impact, places the UK 20th out of 21 wealthy nations with only the United States performing worse. Stark geographic inequalities persist, with people in the wealthiest 10% of areas expecting 20 more years of good health than those in the poorest areas, while London remains the only UK region showing improvement. In over 90% of UK areas, healthy life expectancy now falls below the state pension age of 66-67, contributing to high numbers of people out of work due to ill-health and creating significant economic pressures on the workforce.

Decline in UK Healthy Life Expectancy Over Past Decade

▪UK healthy life expectancy dropped by around two years over the past decade to just under 61 years for both men and women.
▪Poverty, poor housing, lifestyle factors such as obesity, and the impact of the Covid pandemic were identified as causes for the UK healthy life expectancy decline.
▪UK overall life expectancy remained broadly stable during the period when healthy life expectancy declined.
▪The Health Foundation analysis was based on Office for National Statistics data from 2022-24 compared to 2012-2014.

Geographic and Socioeconomic Health Disparities

▪Richmond in London had the highest healthy life expectancy rates in England at 69 years for men and 70 years for women.
▪In more than 90% of UK areas, healthy life expectancy was below the state pension age of 66 or 67.
▪People in the wealthiest 10% of UK areas could expect to have around 20 more years of good health than those in the poorest areas.
▪London was the only UK region that saw an improvement in healthy life expectancy over the past decade.
▪Blackpool had a healthy life expectancy of 51 years for men, among the lowest in England.
▪In one in 10 UK areas, healthy life expectancy was below 55 years.

Economic Impact and Workforce Implications

▪The decline in UK healthy life expectancy has a significant impact on people's ability to work.

International Comparison with Other Wealthy Nations

▪Only the United States has a population that lives for fewer years in good health than the UK among the 21 wealthiest nations.
▪The Health Foundation's global comparison was based on World Health Organization data comparing the UK to nations in western Europe, the Nordics, North America and Oceania.
▪The UK is ranked 20th out of 21 wealthy nations for healthy life expectancy.
▪The UK's healthy life expectancy fall was the second steepest among the richest 21 countries.
▪The UK is one of only five of the richest 21 countries to see healthy life expectancy decline.

Perspective of The Health Foundation

▪The Health Foundation attributes the UK healthy life expectancy decline to structural factors including poverty and poor housing conditions.
▪The Health Foundation's analysis reveals that the UK is falling behind other wealthy nations in population health outcomes.
▪The Health Foundation warns that the UK healthy life expectancy decline represents a significant public health crisis requiring urgent action.