Life expectancy in Scotland was 76.8 years for males and 80.9 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 80.5 years, 7.5 years longer than in Glasgow City (73.0 years). Females
in East Dunbartonshire can expect to live for 83.9 years, 5.4 years longer than in
Glasgow City (78.5 years).
The NHS Board area with the highest male life expectancy was Borders
(79.3 years), with female life expectancy being highest in Orkney (82.5 years); the
NHS Board area with the lowest male life expectancy was Greater Glasgow &
Clyde (74.9 years), with female life expectancy also lowest in Greater Glasgow &
Clyde at 80.0 years.
The Community Health Partnership area where male and female life expectancy
was highest was East Dunbartonshire at 80.5 years and 83.9 years respectively.
Glasgow City had the lowest life expectancy for males (73.0 years) and females
(78.5 years).
Life expectancy at birth was highest for males in Remote Rural areas (79.2 years),
where they can expect to live nearly 3.6 years longer than males in large urban
areas, who have a life expectancy at birth of 75.6 years. Female life expectancy at
birth was also highest in Remote Rural areas (82.6 years), 2.3 years more than in
large urban areas, where it was lowest (80.3 years).
Life expectancy increases as deprivation decreases, with life expectancy at birth for
males in the 10 per cent least deprived areas of Scotland (82.4 years) being
expected to live for 12.5 years more than males in the 10 per cent most deprived
areas (69.9 years). Females in the 10 per cent least deprived areas of Scotland can
expect to live for 84.8 years, 8.5 years longer than those in the 10 per cent most
deprived areas (76.3 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 2.1 years lower than the UK average and
female life expectancy is 1.8 years lower.
In Scotland, males and females can expect to live shorter lives (by 2.4 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
England (79.2 years), 2.4 years higher than in Scotland. Female life expectancy
was highest in Spain (84.7 years), 3.8 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 both males and females has
widened since 1980-1982 by 0.4 years for both males and females.
Changes over time
Male and female life expectancy has continued to rise across Scotland.
The biggest improvements in male life expectancy since 2001-2003 have been in
Eilean Siar Council and Western Isles NHS Board area (5.4 years).
The biggest improvements in female life expectancy since 2001-2003 have been in
East Dunbartonshire Council area, increasing by 3.4 years and Borders NHS Board
area, increasing by 2.6 years.
The gap between male and female life expectancy at birth in Scotland has
decreased from 6.2 years in 1980-1982 to 4.1 years in 2011-2013. 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 17.3 years and females a further
19.6 years.
East Dunbartonshire Council area had the highest male life expectancy at age 65
(19.4 years), 4.4 years higher than in Glasgow City, where it was lowest at
15.0 years. Female life expectancy at age 65 was also highest in East
Dunbartonshire (21.5 years) and lowest in Glasgow City (18.2 years), a difference
of 3.3 years.
The NHS Board areas with the highest male and female life expectancy at age 65
were Orkney (18.7 years) and Shetland (20.8 years). It was lowest for males in
Greater Glasgow & Clyde (16.2 years) and for females in Lanarkshire (18.7 years).
Male and female life expectancy at age 65 is highest in East Dunbartonshire
Community Health Partnership area at 19.4 years and 21.5 years respectively.
Males and females in Glasgow City Community Health Partnership have the lowest
life expectancy at age 65, 15.0 years and 18.2 years respectively.