UK Health Expectancies: 2008 - 2010

As life expectancy continues to increase in the United Kingdom, it is important to understand whether this increasing longevity is accompanied by longer periods in favourable health.  This Statistical Bulletin from the Office for National Statistics, highlights that: in the UK, males and females can expect to spend more than 80% of their lives in very good or good general health from birth - falling to around 57% at age 65; people in England can expect to spend the longest periods in very good or good general health and free from a limiting persistent illness or disability - with the shortest periods being for those in Scotland and Northern Ireland; the proportion of life spent in very good or good general health is increasing in England and Wales but, on the whole, falling in Scotland and Northern Ireland; males are spending a greater proportion of their lives in favourable health compared with females - however, in recent years this gap has narrowed, as the health of females has improved more rapidly than that of males.  This bulletin is available for free downloading at: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/disability-and-health-measurement/health-expectancies-at-birth-and-age-65-in-the-united-kingdom/2008-10/stb-he-2008-2010.html