People living in the most deprived parts England will spend up to two decades more in poor health than Britons in the most affluent areas, data suggests.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show women born in Barnsley in South Yorkshire only spend—on average—52 years and eight months in good health, the lowest figure in the nation.
This is almost two decades less than their counterparts in Wokingham in Berkshire who—on average— 70 years and 10 months of life in healthy condition.
For men, those born in Blackpool had lowest healthy life expectancy in the country at 51 years and nine months, almost two decades less than those in Wokingham who enjoy almost 70 years in good health.
These figures refer to what experts call ‘healthy life expectancy’, which is the number of years a person on average spends in ‘good health’ without developing chronic illnesses linked to age.
Examples of such conditions include type 2 diabetes, dementia or arthritis.
MailOnline has now created a map allowing you to see the healthy life expectancy in your area.
It comes as a new ONS report found that—overall— women in the most deprived areas of England were likely to only have 50.5 years in good health, 20.2 years less—on average—than their more affluent counterparts.
Office for National Statistics figures show a women born in Barnsley in South Yorkshire will only spend—on average—52 years and eight months in good health, the lowest figure in the nation. Pictured: A closed shop in Barnsley
When total life expectancy was taken into account this meant a woman born in the poorest areas in England between 2020 and 2022 will only spend 65.1 per cent—about two thirds—of their life in good health, on average.
ONS statisticians noted this was the lowest proportion of healthy life recorded in women since reports began in 2013.
In contrast, women born in the richest areas in England spent 81.5 per cent of their lifetime in good health.
Figures were similar for men, with those born in the poorest neighbourhoods only having 51 years of good health, 19 years less than their those in richer boroughs.
This was equivalent to only spending 70.4 per cent of their life in good health, compared to 84.5 per cent for men in richer areas.
The ONS found inequality for both sexes had widened over the last decade with poor men and women now living five and seven months longer in poor health than they did a decade ago.
Greg Ceely, ONS head of population health monitoring, said the data reflected a broader decline in life expectancy linked to the Covid pandemic.
‘The pandemic led to increased mortality, the impact of which is seen in our life expectancy estimates,’ he said.
‘However, not everyone was impacted equally.’
‘The biggest decline in life expectancy was seen in the most deprived areas.’
The ONS data paints a similar picture of inequality in Wales.
Welsh women in the poorest areas only spent 61.5 per cent of their life in good health, compared to 80.7 per cent in the most affluent areas.
For men in Wales, those in poorer areas only spent 70.2 per cent of their life in good health compared to 83.6 per cent in the richest parts.
The ONS highlighted that the healthy life expectancies reported are not set in stone.
They said changes like advances in medical technology or public health initiatives could lead to increased periods of healthy life in the future.
Earlier this year a study suggested rising obesity levels in England were driving declining life expectancy.
It calculated our bulging waistlines had contributed to Britons living 9 months less than they did in 2011.
Figures released by the ONS earlier his year suggested that a baby boy born in 2023 could expect to live on average to 86.7 years.
Girls still have a longer anticipated lifespan of 90 years, although the gap has been narrowing.
Among the 2023 cohort, 11.5 per cent of boys and 17.9 per cent of girls are seen as likely to live to see 100.
That is set to increase to 17.3 per cent and 24.7 per cent by 2047.
