The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released the latest life expectancy figures at birth and at age 65 in England and Wales. The figures look at the trends in life expectancy since 1991-93 to 2012-14 (rolling three year averages). The full report can be found here.

  • Life expectancy figures are widely used by local health planners in monitoring health inequalities and in targeting resources to tackle these inequalities efficiently
  • Life expectancy at 65 helps to inform health policy, population planning and research in national and local authorities and pensions and insurance companies

What does this mean for Richmond?

Life expectancy at birth

  • The gap in life expectancy at birth between males and females in Richmond has narrowed from 5.7 to 3.6 years
    • A boy born in Richmond in 2012-14 can, on average, expect to live to 82.4 years of age – 7.5 years longer than for a boy born in 1991-93.
    • A girl born in Richmond in 2012-14 can, on average, expect to live to 86 years of age – 5.4 years longer than a girl born in 1991-93.
  • Life expectancy at birth has increased across the region and in England, due to a fall in deaths from diseases that are amenable to healthcare and public health interventions, such as cancers, respiratory disease and heart disease
  • The positive socioeconomic and environmental factors in Richmond are conducive to higher life expectancy
    • Over the past two decades, Richmond has consistently had a life expectancy at birth which was 2 years higher than the London average
    • Since 2007-09, Richmond has been in the top ten local authorities with the highest female life expectancy at birth in England and Wales


Life expectancy at 65

  • The gap in life expectancy at age 65 between men and women has fluctuated a little, but remains at roughly three years
    • Men aged 65 in Richmond in 2012-14 can, on average, expect to live a further 20.5 years (i.e. to 85 years of age). This is a gain of 3.6 years since 2000-02
    • Women aged 65 in Richmond in 2012-14 could, on average, expect to live a further 23.2 years (i.e. to 88 years of age). This is a gain of 3.3 years since 2000-02
  • Life expectancy at age 65 has increased in England and London from improvements in mortality, driven by changing lifestyle habits and technological advances in diagnosis and treatment
    • Relatively, Richmond has low rates of adults engaging in activities that are deleterious to health such as smoking, unhealthy diet and excess alcohol consumption. However, there are still a large absolute number who engage.
    • Female life expectancy at aged 65 was in the top ten local authorities in England in Wales from 2007-09 to 2011-13, but has dropped to 12th in 2012-14