Life expectancy continues to stall as Scotland bottom of UK

Life expectancy growth continues to stall north of the border, with Scotland having the lowest figures of all UK countries according to new data.

However, the number of centenarians in the country has increased following four years of decline.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) examined statistics between 2017 and 2019 and found the average life expectancy for a woman is 81.1 years, the same as 2018’s figures.

Meanwhile, the average life expectancy for a man is 77.1 years, a slight increase from 77.

The UK figures for life expectancy at birth are 79.4 years for males and 83.1 years for females.

Deprivation was found to have a strong effect on life expectancy.

The figures revealed that men living in the least deprived areas are likely to live 13 years longer than those in the most deprived.

Meanwhile, women in the least deprived areas are likely to live ten years longer than those in the most deprived.

Scottish life expectancy has been increasing since the early 1980s but has been largely static since the 2012 to 2014 period.

Julie Ramsay, head of vital events statistics at NRS, said: “The rate of life expectancy growth has stalled over the last few years in Scotland and this has been broadly reflective of the picture throughout the country.

“Life expectancy varies considerably across Scotland, for example, life expectancy for both males and females is at its lowest in Glasgow City, where males are expected to live to 73.6 years and females to 78.5.

“Life expectancy for females is highest in East Renfrewshire at 84 years and male life expectancy was highest in East Dunbartonshire at 80.5 years.”

Meanwhile, the number of centenarians living in Scotland has increased.

There were 820 people aged 100 and over in 2019.

The figures show there are four times more female centenarians, with 670 women reaching the milestone compared to 150 men.

The overall number has increased by 5% from the year before and represents the first rise in four years.

There are also an estimated 43,660 people aged 90 and over. The number of people in that age group has increased every year since 2009.

Denise Patrick, head of population and migration statistics at NRS, said: “There are many more women than men who live for over 100 years, reflecting the longer life expectancy of females.

“However, over the past decade, the number of men aged 100 and over has grown at a faster rate than females.

“Male centenarians have increased by 50% from 100 to 150 in the last ten years. In comparison, there are only 3% more female centenarians now than a decade ago, but there are still many more women aged 100 and over – 670 in 2019 compared to 650 in 2009.

“Today’s figures also show after four years of decline, we have seen a slight increase in the total number of people living for more than 100 years.

“This rise corresponds with an increase in the number of births following the end of World War One.”