Higher death rates and fewer years in good health for people in deprived areas

A new report from National Records of Scotland (NRS) highlights differences in outcomes for people living in the most deprived areas of Scotland compared to the least deprived areas.

Data from “Scotland’s Population 2020 – The Registrar General’s Annual Review of Demographic Trends” shows that the death rate for all causes of death in the most deprived areas of Scotland was 1.9 times the rate in the least deprived areas. 

The rates for drug-related deaths (18.4 times as large), alcohol-specific deaths (4.3 times as large), suicides (3.0 times as large), and COVID-19 deaths (2.4 times as large) were all notably higher in the most deprived areas. 

This Annual Review provides a unique analysis of a wide range of datasets, highlighting emerging trends across a number of important themes.

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services, said:

“Our report on Scotland’s Population in 2020 shows that the death rate from all causes in the most deprived areas of Scotland is nearly double the death rate of people in our least deprived areas. The difference in death rates is higher for drug-related deaths, alcohol-specific deaths, suicides, and COVID-19.

People in more deprived areas can also expect far fewer years in good health. There is a 20+ year gap in healthy life expectancy between people in the least and most deprived areas.

This Annual Review has been produced since 1855. This year we have restructured it and presented datasets by a number of important themes, aiming to make it more accessible to a wider range of people.”

The full publication Scotland's Population 2020 - The Registrar General's Annual Review of Demographic Trends is available on the NRS website.