England's North-South Life Expectancy Gap Widens in 2025 2026

The north-south life expectancy gap in England has widened over the past decade, with northern regions falling further behind despite record national averages. New provisional data from the King’s Fund shows that while overall life expectancy reached an all-time high in 2025—80 years for men and nearly 84 for women—the gains were overwhelmingly concentrated in southern areas.

Record Highs Mask Regional Disparities

Life expectancy in London rose by nearly a year in the decade to 2023–25, recovering strongly from the sharpest pandemic-era fall. The south-east, south-west and east of England also recorded notable gains. However, the five northern regions—north-west, north-east, Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands and East Midlands—experienced little or no improvement, reflecting deeper deprivation and worse health outcomes.

According to Veena Raleigh, senior fellow at the King’s Fund, “In the most deprived 30% of areas, life expectancy either fell or didn’t improve over the past decade and that’s a disturbing story. Meanwhile, it went up by half a year in the least deprived 30% of areas.”

Local-Level Inequalities Are Starker

At the local authority level, the divide is even more dramatic. Men in Blackpool, Lancashire, can expect to live 10 years less than those in Hart, Hampshire. For women, the gap is eight years. Such disparities highlight how geography and socioeconomic status directly shape health outcomes.

Key Factors Driving the Gap

The King’s Fund identifies several underlying causes:

• Chronic diseases: Higher rates of heart disease, cancer, and respiratory illness in northern regions.
• Behavioral health: Increased suicides and deaths from alcohol and drug misuse in the north.
• Socioeconomic deprivation: Lower incomes, insecure jobs, poor housing, and limited access to green space.
• Underinvestment: Levelling-up pledges and regeneration plans have not yet delivered tangible improvements.

Raleigh emphasised that “this isn’t just a question of fixing the health service. It requires a cross-government drive to address the wider determinants of health—secure jobs, fair pay, adequate housing, clean air, accessible transport and affordable essentials.”

Comparison Table: Life Expectancy Across Regions (2023–25)

Data source: King’s Fund provisional figures for 2023–25.

What This Means for the Future

The widening gap threatens the government’s ambition to raise healthy life expectancy and reduce inequalities. Without coordinated action on housing, employment, and public health, the north–south divide will continue to deepen. Policymakers must prioritise investment in preventive healthcare and community infrastructure.

For older adults living in deprived areas, the consequences are especially severe. Limited access to quality healthcare and social services shortens not only lifespan but also healthy life expectancy—the years lived without disability or serious illness. Addressing these issues is critical for the aging population in the north.

FAQ

The data paints a clear picture: record national life expectancy does not mean equal health for all. The north-south divide is growing, and reversing it will require sustained, targeted investment in the most deprived communities across England.