'Healthy' life expectancy falls for women but improves for men

ONS figures

clock • 2 min read

Females can expect to live a greater number of years in poor health than males

Healthy life expectancy - the average number of years lived in ‘very good' or ‘good' general health based on how individuals perceive their general health - has dropped for women but risen for men, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for 2015 to 2017.  Based on the 2015-2017 figures, men could expect an average healthy life expectancy of 63.1 years at birth - an increase of five months since the 2009-2011 period, while women could expect 63.6 years - a fall of three months. Healthy life expectancy from birth for women varies by 21.5 years across different p...

To continue reading this article...

Join COVER for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, key trend analysis and industry insights.
  • Stay on top of the latest developments around health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and the cost of living crisis.
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletter.
  • Members only access to monthly programme 'The COVER Review'
  • Be the first to hear about our CPD accredited events and awards programmes.

Join now

 

Already a Cover member?

Login

More on Long Term Care

500,000 mental health referrals in October 2025

500,000 mental health referrals in October 2025

NHS mental health statistics

Cameron Roberts
clock 12 December 2025 • 2 min read
Insurance Day for Dementia sees £431k raised for charity

Insurance Day for Dementia sees £431k raised for charity

Record total raised

Jaskeet Briah
clock 10 December 2025 • 2 min read
60% of over-45s underestimate cost of care

60% of over-45s underestimate cost of care

28% underestimate cost by half

Cameron Roberts
clock 08 December 2025 • 2 min read