COVID-19 reduced UK healthy life expectancy by about a year
People born recently in England and Wales can expect to spend fewer years of their life in good health than those born over a decade ago.
COVID-19, healthcare delays and an increase in long-term sickness are likely factors in this decline. But recent Office of National Statistics figures also reflect deeper social issues like widespread inequality.
Gender differences
Men born in England from 2020 to 2022 can expect to spend between 62.4 years of their life in good health — 9.3 months less than those born from 2011 to 2013. Women in England can expect to live 62.7 years in good health, which is a drop of 1.5 years in just over a decade.
Note. Remember these figures are an average that may not apply to you.
Variation within 4 nations
Wales had the lowest average HLE at 61.1 years for men and just 60.3 years for women. Men in Northern Ireland saw their HLE increase by more than a year compared to 2011-2013, whilst women saw theirs fall by 15.3 months.
Women saw the biggest decrease in healthy life expectancy across the UK, with Wales, Northern Ireland and every region of England seeing a decline.
Scotland was not included in the analysis, as figures from its most recent census are not yet available.
COVID-19, delays and chronic illness
This overall drop in HLE may have been driven by COVID-19, “as there had been minimal change in healthy life expectancy up to 2017–19,” according to Veena Raleigh, senior fellow at health think thank The King’s Fund.
This is based on an article by Katherine Hignett here.
Last Reviewed on 29 April 2024