Provisional data indicates that life expectancy in England reached historic levels in 2025, with men averaging 80 years and women nearly 84 years, according to analysis by the King’s Fund. However, these gains have been concentrated primarily in southern regions, while northern areas have lagged behind, reflecting deeper patterns of regional inequality.
London’s life expectancy rose by nearly a year during the decade to 2023-25, while the south-east, south-west, and east of England also saw improvements. In contrast, the five northern regions—comprising roughly half of England’s population—experienced little to no increase in life expectancy over the same period. The disparity is substantial: residents of London can expect to live approximately three years longer than those in the north-east. Local variations are even more pronounced, with men in Blackpool, Lancashire facing a life expectancy about 10 years shorter than those in Hart, Hampshire, and women experiencing an eight-year gap.
The King’s Fund noted that in the most deprived 30 percent of areas, life expectancy either declined or failed to improve over the decade, while the least deprived areas saw gains of approximately half a year. Additionally, healthy life expectancy—measuring years spent in good health—has declined across all English regions. People now spend an average of 2.5 years longer in poor health than previously, with regional disparities ranging from six to seven years but reaching 20 years between the most and least deprived areas.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson stated that the government aims to address these inequalities through various initiatives, including fairer allocation of general practitioner funding and development of neighborhood health centers in disadvantaged areas. The government’s 10-year NHS plan targets an increase in healthy life expectancy while reducing the gap between richest and poorest populations, though the King’s Fund characterized this objective as “unrealistic” given the scale of improvement required. Analysts emphasized that addressing the divide requires broader policy interventions beyond healthcare, including efforts to secure employment, ensure fair wages, improve housing, and enhance access to healthy food and transportation.
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