Scotland Life Expectancy Rises Slightly

Life expectancy in Scotland has seen a slight increase, with females living an average of 80.9 years and males 76.9 years between 2021 and 2023, marking a rise of about 14 weeks for men and nearly 7 weeks for women since 2020-2022. However, these figures remain lower than pre-pandemic levels and are still below those in England and Wales. The disparity in life expectancy is significant across different regions, with East Renfrewshire reporting the highest rates while Glasgow City has the lowest. Deprivation is a critical factor impacting life expectancy, with females in the most deprived areas living 10.5 years less and males 13.2 years less than their counterparts in less deprived regions. Most local authorities have recorded a decline in life expectancy since 2017-2019, reflecting broader health challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, life expectancy in Scotland remains the lowest among Western European countries, highlighting ongoing public health concerns.