Life expectancy at birth varies considerably for areas
in Scotland, according to a report published today by the National Records of
Scotland which breaks down by administrative area the Scotland level estimates
published on 21 March.
Based on statistics covering 2010-2012, the report shows
that life expectancy differs by up to 7.5 years for males and up to 4.9 years
for females between Council areas in Scotland.
Registrar General for Scotland and NRS Chief Executive
Tim Ellis said:
“The figures published today tell us that life
expectancy at birth in Scotland is at its highest ever level and the gap
between males and females is closing. But there are significant differences in
life expectancy depending on which part of Scotland you live in. For example,
life expectancy for a baby born in East Dunbartonshire is 7.5 years more for a
boy and 4.9 years more for a girl than for a baby born in Glasgow
City.”
Main findings from the statistics released
today
At birth
- 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).
Life expectancy at birth, Scotland
2010-2012
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). 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. The Council areas higher for males and females are all 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.
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.
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.
Notes To
Editors
1. The
National Records of Scotland (NRS) was created on 1 April 2011, and
incorporates the former General Register Office for Scotland and National
Archives of Scotland. It is responsible for producing statistics on
Scotland’s population.
2.
This publication summarises the National Records of Scotland’s life
expectancy figures for the years 2010-2012 for administrative areas within
Scotland. It also compares the results of the previously published life
expectancy estimates calculated using population estimates based on the 2001
Census with those calculated using revised population estimates based on the
2011 Census for the years 2000-2002 to 2008-2010. As the revised small area
population estimates for 2002 to 2010 are not yet available it has not been
possible to update the life expectancy estimates for other areas such as by
Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) and Rural Urban classification.
Results for these areas will be published in October/November 2014 alongside
administrative area estimates for 2011- 2013.
3.
Life expectancy in this publication for all years use the new 2014 NHS
Boundaries in existence from 1 April 2014. Figures for 2006 NHS Board areas are
available on the NRS website.
4.
Previous publications about life expectancy produced by NRS are available
at: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/theme/life-expectancy/index.htm
l
5.
A report (GSSM series no. 33) on research undertaken by the Office for National
Statistics (ONS) to compare methodologies for calculating life expectancy
figures and confidence intervals can be found on the ONS website: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/gss-method
ology-series/index.html
6.
Life expectancy figures used for international comparisons are taken from Table
tps00025 of theEurostat website. Further information
on mortality and life
expectancy can also be found on this website.
7.
All the figures in the report are period life expectancies and are a three year
average for 2010-2012. They are produced by aggregating deaths and population
data for the three year period, which provides large enough numbers to ensure
that the figures published in the report are robust. Period life expectancy at
birth for a given area and time period is an estimate of the average number of
years a new born baby would survive if he/she experienced the particular
area’s age specific mortality rate for that time period throughout
his/her life. The figure reflects mortality among those living in the area in
each period, rather than mortality among those born in each area. It is not the
number of years a baby born in the area in the period is expected to live, both
because death rates are likely to change in the future and because many of the
newborns may live elsewhere for at least some part of their lives. The term
‘expected to live’ is used in the publication for ease of
reading.
8.
Period life expectancies for the United Kingdom and its constituent countries
are calculated annually by ONS using complete life tables. These are available
from 1980-1982 until 2010-2012 at the ONS website: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lifetables/national-life-tables/index.html<
/a>
Because of the differences between complete (single year
of age) and abridged (grouped years) life tables, the Scotland level figures
presented in this publication may differ slightly from those published by
ONS.
9.
This publication is available through the NRS website:
http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/theme/life-expectancy/scottish-
areas/index.html
10.
Further statistics on Scotland’s population can be accessed in
the Statistics section of the NRS website.
11.
Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical
staff. General information about population statistics can be accessed in
the About
our Statistics section of the NRS website.
Media enquiries should be directed to: Vicky Crichton
0131 244 2682
Further information about the statistics is available
from:
Customer Services
National Records of Scotland
Ladywell House
Ladywell Road
Edinburgh EH12 7TF
Tel: 0131 314 4299
E-mail: customer@gro-scotland.gsi.gov.uk