Life expectancy in Scotland was 76.6 years for males and 80.8 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 80.1 years, 7.5 years longer than in Glasgow City (72.6 years). Females
in East Dunbartonshire can expect to live for 83.4 years, 4.9 years longer than in
Glasgow City (78.5 years).
The NHS Board area with the highest male life expectancy was Orkney
(79.7 years), with female life expectancy being highest in Borders (82.0 years); the
NHS Board area with the lowest male life expectancy was Greater Glasgow &
Clyde (74.5 years), with female life expectancy being lowest in Lanarkshire
79.8 years.
Compared with UK and Europe
Scottish males and females have the lowest life expectancy at birth in the United
Kingdom (UK). Male life expectancy is 2.3 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 2.6 years and
2.2 years respectively) than in England, where male and female life expectancy is
the highest in the UK.
Within the UK in 2010-2012, male life expectancy was highest in East Dorset and
Hart, both (82.9 years) and lowest in Glasgow City (72.6 years), a difference of 10.3
years. For females, life expectancy at birth was highest in Purbeck at
86.6 years and lowest in Glasgow City where females can expect to live for
78.5 years, a difference of 8.1 years. The Council areas higher for males and
females are in England.
Amongst European Union (EU) countries, male life expectancy was highest in
Sweden (79.9 years), 3.3 years higher than in Scotland. Female life expectancy
was highest in France (85.7 years), 4.9 years higher than in Scotland.
Although male and female life expectancy continues to improve in Scotland, the
gap between Scottish and English life expectancy for females has widened since
1999-2001 by 0.4 years but for males it has remained constant.
Changes over time
Male and female life expectancy has continued to rise across Scotland.
The biggest improvements in male life expectancy since 2000-2002 have been in
Orkney Islands Council and NHS Board area (4.3 years).
The biggest improvements in female life expectancy since 2000-2002 have been in
East Dunbartonshire Council area, increasing by 2.9 years and Highland NHS
Board area, increasing by 2.5 years.
The gap between male and female life expectancy at birth in Scotland has
decreased from 6.2 years in 1981-1983 to 4.2 years in 2010-2012. Male life
expectancy has been increasing at a faster rate than for females since 2001-2003
closing the gap over this period.
At age 65
Males in Scotland could expect to live for a further 17.2 years and females a further
19.5 years.
Orkney Islands Council area had the highest male life expectancy at age 65
(19.4 years), 4.5 years higher than in Glasgow City, where it was lowest at
14.9 years. Female life expectancy at age 65 was highest in East Dunbartonshire
(21.5 years) and lowest in Glasgow City (18.3 years), a difference of 3.2 years.
The NHS Board areas with the highest male and female life expectancy at age 65
were Orkney (19.4 years), and Highland (20.3 years). It was lowest for males in
Greater Glasgow & Clyde (16.1 years) and for females in Lanarkshire (18.7 years).
Revised life expectancy estimates
The differences in life expectancy by age between the revised and previously
published life expectancy estimates for the years 2000-2002 to 2008-2010 is very
small. The differences increase with age and therefore the largest differences in life
expectancies are observed at age 85 and over.
There are wide variations in Council area life expectancy differences for both males
and females between the revised and unrevised estimates, with the largest
difference (11 months) being for males in Dundee City in 2008-2010 at age 85 and
over. For females, the largest difference (8 months) was in Fife in 2008-2010 also
at age 85 and over.