UK girls’ life expectancy ‘greater than 100 years for first time’
Children born in one northern town can reportedly expect – on average – to live to 105
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
The life expectancy of some girls being born in England today is reportedly now greater than 100 years for the first time.
Official figures from Public Health England showed that a baby girl born on the Northburn estate near Cramlington, Northumberland would on average be expected to live to 105 if she stayed there her entire life.
Girls born in Basingstoke and Dean had the second-longest life expectancy – but at 104.3 this also comfortably breached the 100-year mark.
According to reports in the Sunday Times, the figures show men still dragging considerably behind women in terms of expected longevity, with the highest figure for boys being those born in Westminster, at 97.7 years.
And there remains a major discrepancy between regions of the country, with female life expectancy in one district near Bradford, West Yorkshire measured at just 72.5 years.
In total, Public Health England found 57 districts where the woman is expected to live beyond the age of 90, the Times reported.
Les Mayhew, professor of statistics at Cass Business School, told the newspaper the figures show that “even allowing for all the caveats, there are indications that parts of the country are moving to the major landmark of 100”.
Mr Mayhew predicted that the rise of male longevity in less deprived areas could drive social change over the next few decades. He said: “In many areas, male life expectancy already exceeds female.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments