ONS lowers life expectancy projections

Life expectancy for boys and girls born in 2023 has been cut by over five years on previous projections in 2010.

(c) Steve Buissine/Pixabay

(c) Steve Buissine/Pixabay

The ONS statistics show girls and boys born in 2023 are expected to live to 90.0 years and boys to 86.7 years old, 5.5 and 5.6 years lower than projections made in 2010.

Anna Gazzillo, senior analytical manager at The Health Foundation, said: ‘Data released by the Office for National Statistics shows that while people born in the UK today are expected to live longer than previous generations, their projected lifespans are now shorter than previously anticipated.

‘This is deeply concerning. Rebuilding the nation's health will be crucial to the Government's ambitions for achieving economic growth. The Government must focus on prevention through all our public services, ensuring that everyone can live well for longer. This will require concerted cross-Government action on policy areas beyond the NHS and social care that are vital for people's health, such as housing, education and employment.'

Life expectancy for boys and girls in 2047, at 89.3 years and 92.2 years, is 2.6 years and 2.2 years up on 2023 projections.

People aged 65 years in the UK in 2023 are expected to live on average a further 19.8 years for males and 22.5 years for females, projected to rise to 21.8 years for males and 24.4 years for females by 2047.

A projected 17.3% of boys and 24.7% of girls born in 2047 are expected to live to at least 100 years old, an increase from 11.5% of boys and 17.9% of girls born in 2023.

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