Life Expectancy for areas in Scotland, 2008-2010

Main points

The key points in this report for 2008-2010 are:

At birth

Life expectancy in Scotland was 75.8 years for males and 80.4 years for females but with considerable variation between areas.
Male and female life expectancy was highest in East Dunbartonshire Council area and lowest in Glasgow City Council area. Males in East Dunbartonshire can expect to live for 79.4 years, nearly 8 years longer than in Glasgow City (71.6 years). Females in East Dunbartonshire can expect to live for 82.7 years, nearly 5 years longer than in Glasgow City (78.0 years).
The NHS Board area with the highest male life expectancy was Borders (77.5 years), with female life expectancy being highest in Western Isles (82.0 years); the NHS Board area with the lowest male and female life expectancy was Greater Glasgow and Clyde (73.6 years for males and 79.2 years for females).
The Community Health Partnership area where male and female life expectancy was highest was East Dunbartonshire at 79.4 years and 82.7 years respectively. Glasgow City had the lowest life expectancy for males (71.7 years) and females (78.0 years).
Life expectancy at birth was highest for males in accessible rural areas (78.3 years), where they can expect to live nearly 4 years longer than males in large urban areas, who have a life expectancy at birth of 74.5 years. Female life expectancy at birth was highest in remote rural areas (82.2 years), 2.4 years more than in large urban areas, where it was lowest (79.8 years).
Life expectancy increases as deprivation decreases, with life expectancy at birth for males in the 10 per cent least deprived areas of Scotland (81.4 years) being expected to live for 13.2 years more than males in the 10 per cent most deprived areas (68.2 years). Females in the 10 per cent least deprived areas of Scotland can expect to live for 84.6 years, nearly 9 years longer than those in the 10 per cent most deprived areas (75.7 years).

Compared with the UK and Europe

Scottish males and females have the lowest life expectancy at birth in the United Kingdom (UK). Male life expectancy is 2.4 years lower than the UK average and female life expectancy is 1.9 years lower.
In Scotland, males and females can expect to live shorter lives (by 2.7 years and 2.1 years respectively) than in England, where male and female life expectancy is the highest in the UK.
Amongst European Union (EU) countries, male life expectancy was highest in Sweden (79.4 years), 3.6 years higher than in Scotland. Female life expectancy was highest in France (85.0 years), 4.6 years higher than in Scotland.
Although male and female life expectancy continues to improve in Scotland, the gap between Scottish and English life expectancy has widened since 1997-1999, by 0.3 years for males and by 0.4 years for females.

Changes over time

Male and female life expectancy has continued to rise across Scotland.
The biggest improvements in male life expectancy since 1998-2000 have been in Argyll and Bute Council area (3.9 years), Highland NHS Board area (3.7 years) and Mid Highland Community Health Partnership area (5.0 years).
The biggest improvements in female life expectancy since 1998-2000 have been in City of Edinburgh Council area, increasing by 2.9 years, Lothian Health Board area, increasing by 2.6 years, and Edinburgh Community Health Partnership area, increasing by 2.9 years.

At age 65

Males in Scotland could expect to live for a further 16.8 years and females a further 19.3 years.
East Dunbartonshire Council area had the highest male life expectancy at age 65 (18.9 years), 4.6 years higher than in Glasgow City, where it was lowest at 14.3 years. Female life expectancy at age 65 was also highest in East Dunbartonshire (21.1 years) and lowest in Glasgow City (17.8 years), a difference of 3.3 years.
The NHS Board areas with the highest male and female life expectancy at age 65 were Tayside (17.8 years) and Western Isles (20.9 years). It was lowest for males in Greater Glasgow & Clyde (15.5 years) and for females in Lanarkshire (18.5 years).
Male and female life expectancy at age 65 is highest in East Dunbartonshire Community Health Partnership area at 18.9 years and 21.1 years respectively. Males and females in Glasgow City Community Health Partnership have the lowest life expectancy at age 65, 14.3 years and 17.9 years respectively.

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