Life Expectancy in UK 2025 | Statistics & Facts

Life Expectancy in UK 2025

Understanding how long people are expected to live provides crucial insights into the health, wellbeing, and quality of life across the United Kingdom. Life expectancy represents the average number of years a person can expect to live based on current mortality rates, and it serves as a fundamental measure of population health. The figures for life expectancy in UK 2025 reveal important trends about healthcare quality, lifestyle factors, and social conditions affecting citizens across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The latest data from the Office for National Statistics shows that life expectancy at birth in the UK for 2021 to 2023 was 78.8 years for males and 82.8 years for females. These figures represent a slight recovery from the pandemic period but remain below pre-coronavirus levels. The 4.0-year gender gap between male and female life expectancy continues to narrow gradually, reflecting improvements in men’s health outcomes and changing lifestyle patterns. Beyond simple longevity, healthy life expectancy—the number of years people can expect to live in good health—has become an increasingly important measure, with males in England expected to spend 61.5 years in good health and females 61.9 years in 2021 to 2023.

Key Stats & Facts About Life Expectancy in UK 2025

Data Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), National Life Tables 2021-2023, published March 2025; Estimates of the Very Old Including Centenarians 2002-2024, published October 2025; Past and Projected Period and Cohort Life Tables 2022-based, published February 2025.

The data reveals fascinating patterns in UK longevity. The number of centenarians has more than doubled from 8,300 in 2004 to 16,600 in 2024, representing approximately 24.0 centenarians per 100,000 population. This means roughly one in every 4,200 people in the UK is aged 100 or over. Wales has the highest proportion with 25.9 centenarians per 100,000 people, exceeding the UK average. The gender composition among centenarians shows significant change—male centenarians tripled from 910 in 2004 to 3,100 in 2024, while female centenarians almost doubled, narrowing the ratio from 8.6 women for every man in 2004 to 4.5 women for every man in 2024.

Projections for those born in 2023 show that boys can expect to live on average to 86.7 years based on cohort life expectancy, which accounts for future improvements in mortality, while girls can expect to reach 90.0 years. These projections increase substantially for babies born in 2047, with male cohort life expectancy reaching 89.3 years and female reaching 92.2 years—increases of 2.6 years and 2.2 years respectively from 2023 levels. The probability of reaching the century mark continues to rise—11.5% of boys and 17.9% of girls born in 2023 are expected to celebrate their 100th birthday, increasing to 17.3% of boys and 24.7% of girls born in 2047.

Period vs Cohort Life Expectancy in UK 2025

Data Source: Office for National Statistics, National Life Tables UK 2021-2023 and Past and Projected Period and Cohort Life Tables 2022-based UK 1981-2072, published February-March 2025.

Understanding the difference between period and cohort life expectancy is fundamental to interpreting longevity statistics accurately. Period life expectancy represents the average number of additional years a person would expect to live if they experienced the mortality rates observed during a specific time period for the rest of their life. For example, the period life expectancy at birth of 78.8 years for males in 2021-2023 is calculated using the actual mortality rates experienced at each age during those three years. This measure provides a snapshot of current conditions but assumes no future improvements in mortality rates.

In contrast, cohort life expectancy considers projected improvements in mortality rates over time, making it a more realistic estimate for someone born in a particular year. A male born in 2023 has a cohort life expectancy of 86.7 years because it factors in anticipated reductions in death rates at each age as medical advances continue and living conditions improve. This explains why cohort life expectancy is consistently higher than period life expectancy—by approximately 7.9 years for males and 7.2 years for females born in 2023. The data shows that people aged 65 in 2023 can expect to live an additional 19.8 years (males) and 22.5 years (females) based on cohort projections, rising to 21.8 years and 24.4 years respectively by 2047, representing increases of 2.0 years for males and 1.9 years for females over the 24-year projection period.

Life Expectancy in UK by Country in 2025

Data Source: Office for National Statistics, National Life Tables UK 2021-2023 and Life Expectancy for Local Areas of Great Britain 2021-2023, published March-December 2024-2025.

Significant variations in life expectancy across the UK’s constituent countries reveal important health inequalities. England consistently shows the highest life expectancy at 79.1 years for males and 83.0 years for females in 2021-2023, while Scotland lags considerably behind with 76.8 years for males and 80.8 years for females—representing gaps of 2.3 years for males and 2.2 years for females compared to England. Wales occupies a middle position with 78.0 years for males and 82.0 years for females, while Northern Ireland shows 78.7 years for males and 82.4 years for females.

The gender gap in life expectancy varies slightly across countries, ranging from 3.7 years in Northern Ireland to 4.0 years in Scotland, Wales, and the UK overall. These persistent differences reflect complex interactions between socioeconomic factors, historical industrial employment patterns, smoking rates, alcohol consumption, obesity levels, and healthcare access. Scotland’s lower life expectancy has been attributed to higher rates of deprivation, historically dangerous occupational exposures in heavy industry, and elevated levels of preventable deaths from causes like cardiovascular disease and alcohol-related conditions. All four countries experienced reductions in life expectancy during 2020-2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, with 2021-2023 estimates showing the first increases since the pandemic but remaining below pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2017-2019.

Regional Life Expectancy in England in 2025

Data Source: Office for National Statistics, Life Expectancy for Local Areas of Great Britain between 2001-2003 and 2021-2023, published December 2024.

A clear north-south divide in life expectancy persists across England’s regions. The South East, South West, and East of England consistently show the highest longevity, with the South East recording 80.1 years for males and the South West achieving 83.9 years for females—the highest female figure nationally. London presents an interesting anomaly with 84.2 years for females, the highest in England despite not leading in male life expectancy at 79.5 years.

The North East region shows the lowest life expectancy at 77.2 years for males and 81.2 years for females, creating a 2.9-year gap for males and 2.7-year gap for females compared to the highest regions. This translates to males in the South East living nearly 3 full years longer than those in the North East. The North West and Yorkshire and Humber regions also demonstrate significantly lower life expectancies, with figures approximately 2-2.5 years below the southern regions. These disparities reflect underlying socioeconomic inequalities, with northern regions historically experiencing higher levels of deprivation, industrial decline affecting employment prospects, greater prevalence of risk factors including smoking and obesity, and differences in healthcare access and quality.

Healthy Life Expectancy in UK 2025

Data Source: Office for National Statistics, Health State Life Expectancies in England, Northern Ireland and Wales 2020-2022, published March 2024; Healthy State Life Expectancies England and Wales 2021-2023, published December 2024.

Healthy life expectancy (HLE)—the average number of years people can expect to live in good general health—provides crucial context beyond simple life expectancy figures. In England, males born in 2021-2023 can expect to spend 61.5 years in good health, representing 77.8% of their 79.1-year life expectancy, while females can expect 61.9 healthy years, constituting 74.6% of their 83.0-year life expectancy. This means English males spend approximately 17.6 years in poor health and females spend 21.1 years, highlighting that women live longer but spend more years with health limitations.

Wales shows lower healthy life expectancy at 60.3 years for males (77.3% of total life) and 59.6 years for females (72.7% of total life), indicating Welsh residents spend proportionally more time in poor health compared to their English counterparts. Northern Ireland performs well with 61.8 years for males and 61.9 years for females, representing 78.5% and 75.1% of total life expectancy respectively for the 2020-2022 period. Regional variations within England are substantial—the South East region shows the highest healthy life expectancy at approximately 65.0 years for males and 65.6 years for females, while the North East has the lowest at 58.1 years for males and 58.9 years for females, creating a 6.9-year gap for males and 6.7-year gap for females between England’s healthiest and least healthy regions.

Life Expectancy Inequality by Deprivation in UK 2025

Data Source: Office for National Statistics and Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Healthy Life Expectancy by National Area Deprivation England and Wales 2013-2015 to 2020-2022, published July 2025; Health Trends and Variation in England 2025, published September 2025.

Socioeconomic inequality profoundly impacts life expectancy in the UK. In England, the gap between the most and least deprived 10% of areas is 9.6 years for males and 8.0 years for females based on 2020-2022 data. Males in the least deprived areas live to 83.7 years on average, while those in the most deprived areas reach only 74.1 years. For females, the figures are 86.7 years versus 78.7 years. This disparity has widened over time—the male gap increased from 8.4 years in 2011-2013 and the female gap grew from 5.6 years over the same period.

The inequality becomes even more stark when examining healthy life expectancy. Males in the least deprived areas can expect 70.9 years in good health, compared to just 52.3 years for those in the most deprived areas—a staggering 18.6-year gap. Females face an even larger disparity of 20.2 years (72.1 years versus 51.9 years). This means people in deprived areas not only die younger but also spend significantly more years in poor health. At the local authority level, the gap is even wider—Hart in the South East has the highest male life expectancy at 83.7 years, while Blackpool in the North West has the lowest at 73.4 years, creating a 10.3-year difference. For females, the gap is 8.3 years between these same areas.

Centenarian Population in UK 2025

Data Source: Office for National Statistics, Estimates of the Very Old Including Centenarians UK 2002-2024, published October 2025.

The centenarian population in the UK has experienced remarkable growth, more than doubling from 8,300 in 2004 to 16,600 in 2024. This represents 24.0 centenarians per 100,000 population, meaning approximately one in every 4,200 people in the UK has reached their 100th birthday. The rate of increase has outpaced overall population growth, with centenarians rising by 100% while the total population increased by much less.

The gender composition among centenarians is evolving significantly. While females still constitute the vast majority at 13,500 (81.5%) of centenarians compared to 3,100 males (18.5%), the male share has nearly doubled from 10.4% in 2003. The ratio of female to male centenarians has narrowed from 8.6:1 in 2003 to 4.5:1 in 2024, reflecting greater improvements in male survival to very old ages. Male centenarians have tripled in number (241% increase) over this 20-year period, while female centenarians almost doubled (94% increase).

Geographically, Wales leads the UK with 25.9 centenarians per 100,000 people, the highest proportion among all four constituent countries. The broader population aged 90 years and over reached 625,000 in 2024, with males representing 33.7% (210,875) and females 66.3% (414,125)—this male share has also increased substantially from 28% in 2004. Among the 90+ population, approximately 2.7% are centenarians, and this proportion continues to rise as improvements in late-life survival continue.

Future Projections for Life Expectancy in UK to 2072

Data Source: Office for National Statistics, Past and Projected Period and Cohort Life Tables 2022-based UK 1981-2072, published February 2025.

Long-term projections for life expectancy in the UK through 2072 show continued improvements but at varying rates. Cohort life expectancy at birth for males is projected to increase from 86.7 years in 2023 to 92.0 years in 2072—a gain of 5.3 years over 49 years, averaging approximately 1.3 months per year. For females, the increase is from 90.0 years to 94.5 years, representing a 4.5-year improvement. The gender gap is projected to narrow from 3.3 years in 2023 to 2.5 years by 2072, continuing the long-term trend of convergence.

The probability of reaching age 100 shows dramatic increases. For boys born in 2023, there is an 11.5% chance of celebrating their 100th birthday, rising to 17.3% for those born in 2047 and 25.1% for those born in 2072—meaning one in four males could reach their centenary by the end of the projection period. For girls, the percentages rise from 17.9% in 2023 to 24.7% in 2047 and 32.8% in 2072—nearly one in three. By 2047, boys are projected to have a cohort life expectancy of 89.3 years and girls 92.2 years, increases of 2.6 years and 2.2 years respectively from 2023 levels.

For people reaching age 65, projections show they can expect to live an additional 19.8 years (males) and 22.5 years (females) in 2023, increasing to 21.8 years and 24.4 years by 2047—representing gains of 2.0 years for males and 1.9 years for females. These projections assume continued improvements in mortality rates at all ages, driven by medical advances, healthier lifestyles, and better disease management, though they are slightly lower than previous 2020-based interim projections reflecting recent slowdowns in life expectancy improvements.

COVID-19 Impact on Life Expectancy in UK 2025

Data Source: Office for National Statistics, National Life Tables UK multiple years 2017-2023, published 2020-2025.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic significantly impacted UK life expectancy, with effects still visible in the latest 2021-2023 data. Pre-pandemic life expectancy in 2017-2019 stood at 79.4 years for males and 83.1 years for females. During the pandemic period of 2020-2022, life expectancy fell to 78.6 years for males and 82.6 years for females, representing declines of 0.8 years for males and 0.5 years for females. The pandemic particularly affected males more severely, reflected in the larger reduction.

The 2021-2023 estimates mark the first period showing recovery, with life expectancy rising to 78.8 years for males and 82.8 years for females—improvements of 0.2 years for both sexes compared to 2020-2022. However, these figures remain 0.6 years below pre-pandemic levels for males and 0.3 years below for females, indicating incomplete recovery. The three-year averaging methodology means that 2021-2023 figures still incorporate mortality from 2021, when COVID-19 deaths remained elevated, partially masking the full extent of recovery in 2022-2023.

Regional variations in pandemic impact were substantial. Mortality from COVID-19 was higher in more deprived areas, particularly affecting cities and industrial regions in northern England, the Midlands, and Wales. Scotland experienced some of the largest reductions, while the South West of England showed smaller impacts. The pandemic exacerbated existing health inequalities, with deprived communities experiencing higher death rates due to factors including overcrowded housing, occupational exposures, higher prevalence of underlying health conditions, and reduced healthcare access during lockdowns.

Gender Differences in Life Expectancy in UK 2025

Data Source: Office for National Statistics, National Life Tables UK 2021-2023 and Past and Projected Period and Cohort Life Tables 2022-based, published February-March 2025.

The gender gap in life expectancy has been narrowing steadily over recent decades. Currently, females live on average 4.0 years longer than males at birth (82.8 years versus 78.8 years), but this gap was substantially wider historically, reaching 6.4 years in 1969. The convergence reflects major improvements in male health outcomes, particularly from reduced smoking rates, safer working conditions, declining mortality from cardiovascular disease, and better health behaviors.

At age 65, the gender gap narrows to 2.5 years, with females expecting an additional 21.0 years compared to 18.5 years for males. This represents a 13.5% female advantage. At very advanced ages like 85 years, the gap is only 1.0 year (7.2 years for females versus 6.2 years for males), suggesting that males who survive to very old ages have relatively similar longevity to females. Cohort life expectancy projections show continued narrowing of the gender gap from 3.3 years for babies born in 2023 to 2.5 years for those born in 2072.

Several factors explain why females consistently outlive males. Biological advantages include stronger immune systems, protective effects of estrogen on cardiovascular health, and two X chromosomes providing genetic redundancy. Behavioral factors historically showed males engaging more in risky behaviors, although these differences are diminishing. Occupational hazards disproportionately affected males in dangerous industries like mining, construction, and manufacturing. Healthcare utilization shows females more likely to seek preventative care and medical attention earlier. The narrowing gap suggests these behavioral and occupational differences are becoming less pronounced as society evolves.

Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.

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