Glasgow has the highest rates of premature mortality among men in the UK, charity Movember says

Men living in the north east of Glasgow are more than three times more likely to die young than those living in East Dunbartonshire – despite the two areas being neighbours.

Charity Movember said that across the UK, two in five men die too young, while those living in the most deprived regions are 81% more likely to die prematurely than those in the wealthiest.

The report found that the health of men in the UK is worse than in many other wealthy countries.

In Scotland, between 2019 and 2021 men in the least deprived 10% of areas lived on average 14 years longer than those in the most deprived areas.

In 2024, men in areas of north east Glasgow are almost twice as likely to die before the age of 75 than women.

Constituencies in Scotland with the highest rates of male premature mortality were Glasgow North East, followed by Glasgow East, South, Central and North.

Motherwell and Wishaw came in at sixth on the list followed by Dundee West, West Dunbartonshire, Airdrie and Shotts, and Paisley and Renfrewshire.

East Dunbartonshire had the lowest rate of male premature mortality in Scotland followed by West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, North East Fife, and Gordon.

Edinburgh South was in fifth place followed by Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, East Renfrewshire, Orkney and Shetland, and Edinburgh West.

Movember’s research highlighted that almost two in five (39%) deaths were premature, often due to causes which could have been avoided through prevention, behaviour change, screening, and early diagnosis.

The report – with new polling and evidence from 3,000 people across the UK – found that where men live and the level of deprivation in their local area determines if men will die before the age of 75, with the UK one of only two countries in the G7 where male life expectancy has decreased since 2012.

The charity said that the issues around the state of poor men’s health are complex, however a contributing factor is the “failure of healthcare services reaching and engaging men early”. New data shows nearly two thirds (64%) wait more than a week with symptoms before visiting the doctor – and 31% will wait more than a month.

And when men do seek help, healthcare systems are inadequately prepared to provide them with engaging, appropriate, and effective care, the charity added.

The report found 62% want to or have left their practitioner, due to a lack of “personal connection”.

The Real Face of Men’s Health Report comes as the charity calls on ministers across the devolved nations to pay attention to the growing public men’s health emergency, in which men account for 75% of all suicides, and 53% of deaths by cancer.

Michelle Terry, CEO of Movember, said: “The report findings should serve as a wakeup call to the unacceptable state of men’s health in Scotland and across the UK. For too long, men’s health has been relegated to the sidelines of broader health conversations. Men’s health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. If we want these tragic numbers to decrease, and better support the men in our lives, real change is needed urgently.

“We know the risk factors and issues associated with poor men’s health, so we need to proactively take action to address them. We need to invest in education, health system reform to meet the unique needs of all genders, and have a dedicated men health strategy if we truly want to make progress.”