Life expectancy (Organisation) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Life expectancy (Organisation) was 81.3 Years in 2024. ▲ Rising
Life expectancy in United Kingdom, 1960–2024
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Years.
Analysis
In 2024, life expectancy in United Kingdom stood at 81.3 Years. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life expectancy in United Kingdom peaked at 81.3 Years in 2019 and was at its lowest, 70.7 Years, in 1961.
United Kingdom ranks 22nd of 41 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 49 years of available data.
Life expectancy (Organisation) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 70.8 Years | — |
| 1961 | 70.7 Years | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 71.9 Years | +1.7% |
| 1971 | 71.9 Years | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 73.6 Years | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 73.9 Years | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 74 Years | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 74.3 Years | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 74.6 Years | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 74.5 Years | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 74.8 Years | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 75.1 Years | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 75.2 Years | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 75.4 Years | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 75.7 Years | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 75.9 Years | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 76.2 Years | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 76.1 Years | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 76.7 Years | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 76.6 Years | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 76.8 Years | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 77 Years | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 77.2 Years | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 77.4 Years | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 77.8 Years | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 78 Years | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 78.2 Years | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 78.3 Years | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 78.8 Years | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 79 Years | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 79.3 Years | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 79.5 Years | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 79.6 Years | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 80.1 Years | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 80.4 Years | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 80.7 Years | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 80.8 Years | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 80.9 Years | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 81.1 Years | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 80.8 Years | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 81 Years | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 81.1 Years | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 81 Years | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 81.3 Years | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 80.3 Years | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 80.5 Years | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 80.9 Years | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 81 Years | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 81.3 Years | +0.4% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 81.3 Years is below the median for high income countries, which is 82.2 Years, 99% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 81.3 Years is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 82.2 Years, 99% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 70.75 Years | 70.7 Years | 70.8 Years | 2 |
| 1970s | 71.9 Years | 71.9 Years | 71.9 Years | 2 |
| 1980s | 74.54 Years | 73.6 Years | 75.4 Years | 10 |
| 1990s | 76.56 Years | 75.7 Years | 77.4 Years | 10 |
| 2000s | 78.86 Years | 77.8 Years | 80.1 Years | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.91 Years | 80.4 Years | 81.3 Years | 10 |
| 2020s | 80.8 Years | 80.3 Years | 81.3 Years | 5 |
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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life expectancy in United Kingdom?
- Life expectancy in United Kingdom was 81.3 Years in 2024, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest life expectancy recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 81.3 Years in 2019.
- What is the lowest life expectancy recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 70.7 Years in 1961.
- How does United Kingdom rank for life expectancy?
- United Kingdom ranks 22nd out of 41 countries with data for 2024.
- Is life expectancy rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Life expectancy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
This dataset presents data on life expectancy at birth, and at ages 40, 60, 65 and 80 years old. Please refer to the Sources and Methods for detailed country-specific information.