Difference in male and female life expectancy in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Difference in male and female life expectancy was 3.78 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
3.78
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
181st
of 236 countries
All-time high
5.96
in 1973
All-time low
2.63
in 1922
Years of data
102
1922–2023
Difference in male and female life expectancy in United Kingdom, 1922–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 3.78 for difference in male and female life expectancy in 2023.
That represents a change of down 2.0% on the previous year and up 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, difference in male and female life expectancy in United Kingdom peaked at 5.96 in 1973 and was at its lowest, 2.63, in 1922.
United Kingdom ranks 181st of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 102 years of available data.
Difference in male and female life expectancy in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1922 | 2.63 | — |
| 1923 | 2.8 | +6.5% |
| 1924 | 2.66 | -5.0% |
| 1925 | 2.81 | +5.6% |
| 1926 | 2.78 | -1.1% |
| 1927 | 2.85 | +2.5% |
| 1928 | 2.93 | +2.8% |
| 1929 | 2.88 | -1.7% |
| 1930 | 3.18 | +10.4% |
| 1931 | 2.87 | -9.7% |
| 1932 | 2.84 | -1.0% |
| 1933 | 2.9 | +2.1% |
| 1934 | 3.05 | +5.2% |
| 1935 | 3.09 | +1.3% |
| 1936 | 3.18 | +2.9% |
| 1937 | 3.28 | +3.1% |
| 1938 | 3.53 | +7.6% |
| 1939 | 3.6 | +2.0% |
| 1940 | 4.45 | +23.6% |
| 1941 | 5.28 | +18.7% |
| 1942 | 5.32 | +0.8% |
| 1943 | 5.25 | -1.3% |
| 1944 | 5.54 | +5.5% |
| 1945 | 4.83 | -12.8% |
| 1946 | 4.13 | -14.5% |
| 1947 | 4.04 | -2.2% |
| 1948 | 4 | -1.0% |
| 1949 | 3.89 | -2.7% |
| 1950 | 4.16 | +6.8% |
| 1951 | 4.42 | +6.4% |
| 1952 | 4.78 | +8.0% |
| 1953 | 4.82 | +0.9% |
| 1954 | 4.92 | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 5 | +1.7% |
| 1956 | 5.08 | +1.6% |
| 1957 | 5.33 | +4.8% |
| 1958 | 5.28 | -0.8% |
| 1959 | 5.35 | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 5.44 | +1.7% |
| 1961 | 5.45 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 5.55 | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 5.62 | +1.4% |
| 1964 | 5.81 | +3.2% |
| 1965 | 5.86 | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 5.86 | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 5.86 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | 5.79 | -1.2% |
| 1969 | 5.95 | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 5.94 | -0.1% |
| 1971 | 5.95 | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 5.95 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 5.96 | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 5.93 | -0.4% |
| 1975 | 5.94 | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 5.86 | -1.3% |
| 1977 | 5.89 | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 5.93 | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 5.91 | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 5.87 | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 5.81 | -1.1% |
| 1982 | 5.7 | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 5.76 | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 5.7 | -1.0% |
| 1985 | 5.59 | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 5.66 | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 5.57 | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 5.52 | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 5.32 | -3.5% |
| 1990 | 5.49 | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 5.38 | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 5.32 | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 5.21 | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 5.19 | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 5.15 | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 5.06 | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 4.91 | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 4.89 | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 4.78 | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 4.72 | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 4.66 | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 4.55 | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 4.38 | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 4.35 | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 4.2 | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 4.3 | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 4.18 | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 4.06 | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 4.13 | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 3.95 | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 3.85 | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 3.63 | -5.7% |
| 2013 | 3.71 | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 3.69 | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 3.6 | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 3.63 | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 3.64 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 3.64 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3.67 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 3.98 | +8.5% |
| 2021 | 3.88 | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 3.86 | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 3.78 | -2.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 3.78 is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.91, 77% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 3.78 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.35, 71% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 2.79 | 2.63 | 2.93 | 8 |
| 1930s | 3.15 | 2.84 | 3.6 | 10 |
| 1940s | 4.67 | 3.89 | 5.54 | 10 |
| 1950s | 4.91 | 4.16 | 5.35 | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.72 | 5.44 | 5.95 | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.93 | 5.86 | 5.96 | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.65 | 5.32 | 5.87 | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.14 | 4.78 | 5.49 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.35 | 4.06 | 4.72 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.95 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.88 | 3.78 | 3.98 | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 461 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0261 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is difference in male and female life expectancy in United Kingdom?
- Difference in male and female life expectancy in United Kingdom was 3.78 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest difference in male and female life expectancy recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 5.96 in 1973.
- What is the lowest difference in male and female life expectancy recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.63 in 1922.
- How does United Kingdom rank for difference in male and female life expectancy?
- United Kingdom ranks 181st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is difference in male and female life expectancy rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Difference in male and female life expectancy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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