LIFE expectancy in Scotland increased slightly for both males and females, according to new figures from National Records of Scotland.
The life expectancy for 2021-2023 is 80.9 years for females and 76.9 years for males. Compared to the estimate for 2020-2022, this is an increase of about 14 weeks for males and almost 7 weeks for females.
The national figures are still down on where they were prior to the pandemic and most local authorities’ figures are still lower than they were at this point.
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Scotland continues to have lower life expectancy than England and Wales.
NRS statistician Phillipa Haxton said: “Life expectancy in Scotland peaked in 2012-2014 and plateaued until 2017-2019. Thereafter there was a fall.
“Today’s figures are still below the peak of 10 to 12 years ago.”
Female life expectancy was 10.5 years lower in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived. In the most deprived areas male life expectancy lagged 13.2 years behind the least deprived.
Life expectancy in Scotland’s NHS health boards also varies.
It was lowest in Lanarkshire for females at 79.5 years and in Greater Glasgow and Clyde for males with 75.5 years. Life expectancy was highest in Shetland for females at 83.9 years and in the Borders for males at 78.7 years
Life expectancy was highest in remote rural areas and lowest in large urban areas.
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