New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal a wide gulf in how long people in England and Wales can expect to live in good health, with some small areas recording healthy life expectancies at birth of fewer than 50 years.
Sharp local differences in years lived in good health
The ONS used a revised method drawing on the 2021 census to calculate healthy life expectancy across more than 7,200 local areas in England and Wales for the period 2019–2023. Across those areas the median healthy life expectancy at birth was 66.8 years for females in England and 63.8 years for females in Wales. For males the medians were lower: 65.3 years in England and 62.5 years in Wales.
The figures highlight very large local disparities. At the high end, parts of London top the rankings: the highest healthy life expectancy for men is recorded at 78.3 years and for women at 81.2 years, both in Knightsbridge. By contrast, several areas of Blackpool appear among those with the lowest healthy life expectancy.
Blackpool among the worst‑affected areas
Central Blackpool ranks third lowest nationally for healthy life expectancy in males, at 47.9 years. Other Blackpool small areas in the male rankings include South Promenade and Seasiders Way (joint seventh lowest, 49.6 years) and North East Centre and North Shore (joint ninth lowest, 49.8 years).
For women, North East Centre of Blackpool is the second lowest area at 50.0 years, while South Promenade and Seasiders Way is sixth lowest at 50.8 years, and Little Layton and Little Carleton is ninth lowest at 51.6 years. Overall, parts of Blackpool make up four of the 10 lowest areas for men and three of the 10 lowest for women. By contrast, areas of London feature heavily among the top rankings, accounting for six of the 10 highest for men and five of the 10 highest for women.
| Measure | England | Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Median healthy life expectancy (females) | 66.8 years | 63.8 years |
| Median healthy life expectancy (males) | 65.3 years | 62.5 years |
What the numbers mean and why they matter
Healthy life expectancy estimates not just how long people live, but how many of those years are spent in good health — a metric used to plan NHS and social care services, and to target public‑health interventions. Large local differences point to inequalities in the social determinants of health, including employment, housing, education and access to health services.
- The ONS calculations are based on the 2021 census and a new method, covering 2019–2023.
- Some London small areas record the highest healthy life expectancies (over 78 years for men and over 81 years for women).
- Certain coastal and post‑industrial towns, such as parts of Blackpool, appear among the lowest ranked areas.
These disparities have implications for local and national policy. Areas with markedly lower healthy life expectancy will typically require more intensive health and social care support for longer parts of the population’s lives, and may also need targeted prevention and early‑intervention programmes to reduce health inequalities.
The ONS release provides a more granular picture than earlier national averages, allowing commissioners and public‑health teams to see which small areas are most affected. That information can feed into resource allocation, workforce planning and community health initiatives.
Policymakers and health services will need to weigh these data alongside other indicators, such as life expectancy, disease prevalence and deprivation indices, to design interventions that address root causes rather than symptoms.
As with any single data release, the ONS figures are a starting point for discussion rather than a complete explanation. They indicate where people are living fewer years in good health, but not all the reasons why — those require local investigation and sustained policy action.
