Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal significant variations in life expectancy across Gloucestershire, underscoring notable disparities between different districts.
For babies born between 2022 and 2024, the data shows that residents in the Cotswold and Tewkesbury districts generally enjoy higher life expectancies compared to those in Gloucester city, where life expectancy is lowest.
Women in Tewkesbury have the highest average life expectancy in the county at 84.7 years, just ahead of the Cotswolds at 84.6 years and Stroud at 84.4 years. In contrast, Gloucester holds the lowest average female life expectancy at 82.1 years.
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For men, life expectancy is highest in the Cotswold district at 82.0 years, followed by Tewkesbury’s 81.4 years. Gloucester men have the shortest expected lifespan of 78.3 years.
Here is a breakdown of life expectancy across Gloucestershire’s districts:
- Cotswold: Women 84.6, Men 82.0
- Tewkesbury: Women 84.7, Men 81.4
- Stroud: Women 84.4, Men 80.8
- Cheltenham: Women 84.0, Men 80.0
- Forest of Dean: Women 83.6, Men 79.7
- Gloucester: Women 82.1, Men 78.3
Comparing these to national figures, the highest female life expectancy in the UK is 87.1 years in Kensington & Chelsea, London, while the lowest is 78.7 years in Glasgow, Scotland. Among men, Hart, Hampshire tops the list at 83.7 years, with Blackpool, Lancashire at the bottom with 73.7 years.
Nationally, female life expectancy has returned to pre-pandemic levels, with an average of 83.0 years for girls born in 2022-24, up from 82.7 years in 2019-21. Male life expectancy has improved slightly to 79.1 years but remains just below levels observed before the pandemic.
Life expectancy in the UK increased steadily throughout the late 20th century but plateaued in the 2010s, and Covid-19 caused a notable dip in 2020 and 2021. It remains uncertain if recent improvements mark a renewed upward trend or a stabilization.
Within the UK’s four nations, England reports the highest life expectancy rates for babies born in 2022-24, with Scotland registering the lowest. Wales and Northern Ireland sit between these ranges.
ONS expert Greg Ceely noted, “Life expectancy varies significantly by location, with the highest levels often found in southern England, while some northern regions and Scotland see the lowest.”
The gap in life expectancy between UK areas is stark: boys born in Hart, Hampshire can expect to live 10 years longer than those in Blackpool. For girls, the difference is 8.4 years, from 87.1 in Kensington & Chelsea to 78.7 in Glasgow.
This local variation highlights the ongoing challenges and inequalities in health outcomes across the UK and within Gloucestershire itself.