Lifespan gap between rich and poor is now 10 years

The life expectancy gap between men in the richest and poorest parts of the country has widened to nearly ten years.

And while children born in the richest areas between 2014 and 2016 can expect to have about 70 years of good health, those from the poorest parts of england can expect an average of just 52.

Figures published yesterday by the Office for National Statistics were based on analysis made every three years of local areas and their levels of wealth, and results from the Annual Population Survey, which questions more than 300,000 people every year.

The latest figures show that a boy born in one of the rich areas of england between 2014 and 2016 can expect to live 9.3 years longer than a boy born in one of the poorest areas – 83.3 years against 73.9 years, in rounded figures.

For girls born at the same time, the life expectancy gap was 7.4 years, with those in rich districts likely to live 86.2 years against 78.8 for those in the poorest areas.

Yesterday’s report did not identify specific regions. however, those linked with low life expectancy include areas of Merseyside and Manchester, while high life expectancy is found in Dorset and the home Counties.

The figures suggest that for children born between 2014 and 2016, the wealth gap in life expectancy grew by 0.3 years for boys and 0.4 years for girls compared to those born between 2011 and 2013.