Female and male life expectancy at birth in years in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Female and male life expectancy at birth in years was 79.36 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
79.36
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
40th
of 236 countries
All-time high
79.55
in 2019
All-time low
65.71
in 1951
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Female and male life expectancy at birth in years in United Kingdom, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female and male life expectancy at birth in years in United Kingdom is 79.36, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female and male life expectancy at birth in years in United Kingdom peaked at 79.55 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 65.71, in 1951.
United Kingdom ranks 40th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Female and male life expectancy at birth in years in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 66.24 | — |
| 1951 | 65.71 | -0.8% |
| 1952 | 66.83 | +1.7% |
| 1953 | 67.12 | +0.4% |
| 1954 | 67.41 | +0.4% |
| 1955 | 67.37 | -0.1% |
| 1956 | 67.59 | +0.3% |
| 1957 | 67.61 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 67.79 | +0.3% |
| 1959 | 67.92 | +0.2% |
| 1960 | 68.04 | +0.2% |
| 1961 | 67.81 | -0.3% |
| 1962 | 67.83 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 67.71 | -0.2% |
| 1964 | 68.41 | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 68.36 | -0.1% |
| 1966 | 68.28 | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 68.93 | +1.0% |
| 1968 | 68.56 | -0.5% |
| 1969 | 68.47 | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 68.7 | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 69.05 | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 68.83 | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 69.01 | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 69.22 | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 69.51 | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 69.53 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 70 | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 69.94 | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 70.06 | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 70.51 | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 70.85 | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 71.03 | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 71.27 | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 71.68 | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 71.61 | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 71.82 | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 72.21 | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 72.34 | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 72.58 | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 72.84 | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 73.08 | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 73.51 | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 73.44 | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 74 | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 73.92 | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 74.22 | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 74.57 | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 74.71 | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 74.87 | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 75.38 | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 75.69 | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 75.84 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 76.06 | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 76.62 | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 76.9 | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 77.1 | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 77.34 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 77.53 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 78.01 | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 78.34 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 78.76 | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 78.95 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 78.99 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 79.23 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 79.04 | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 79.19 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 79.28 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 79.25 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 79.55 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 78.36 | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 78.72 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 79.1 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 79.36 | +0.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 79.36 is above the median for high income countries, which is 78.86, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 79.36 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 77.36, 1.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 67.16 | 65.71 | 67.92 | 10 |
| 1960s | 68.24 | 67.71 | 68.93 | 10 |
| 1970s | 69.38 | 68.7 | 70.06 | 10 |
| 1980s | 71.59 | 70.51 | 72.58 | 10 |
| 1990s | 73.92 | 72.84 | 74.87 | 10 |
| 2000s | 76.65 | 75.38 | 78.01 | 10 |
| 2010s | 79.06 | 78.34 | 79.55 | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.89 | 78.36 | 79.36 | 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 female and male life expectancy at birth in years in United Kingdom?
- Female and male life expectancy at birth in years in United Kingdom was 79.36 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female and male life expectancy at birth in years recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 79.55 in 2019.
- What is the lowest female and male life expectancy at birth in years recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.71 in 1951.
- How does United Kingdom rank for female and male life expectancy at birth in years?
- United Kingdom ranks 40th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is female and male life expectancy at birth in years rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. 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 Female and male life expectancy at birth in years. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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