Life expectancy at birth oecd in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Life expectancy at birth oecd was 81 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
81
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
23rd
of 49 countries
All-time high
81.4
in 2014
All-time low
70.7
in 1961
Years of data
45
1960–2020
Life expectancy at birth oecd in United Kingdom, 1960–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for life expectancy at birth oecd in United Kingdom is 81, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life expectancy at birth oecd in United Kingdom peaked at 81.4 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 70.7, in 1961.
United Kingdom ranks 23rd of 49 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Life expectancy at birth oecd in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 70.8 | — |
| 1961 | 70.7 | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 71.9 | +1.7% |
| 1971 | 71.9 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 73.2 | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 73.8 | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 74.1 | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 74.3 | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 74.5 | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 74.7 | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 74.8 | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 75.2 | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 75.3 | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 75.4 | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 75.7 | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 75.9 | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 76.3 | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 76.2 | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 76.8 | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 76.7 | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 76.9 | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 77.2 | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 77.3 | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 77.5 | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 77.9 | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 78.2 | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 78.3 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 78.4 | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 79 | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 79.2 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 79.5 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 79.7 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 79.8 | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 80.4 | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 80.6 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 81 | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 81 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 81.1 | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 81.4 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 81 | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 81.2 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 81.3 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 81.3 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 81.3 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 81 | -0.4% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 81 is below the median for high income countries, which is 81.4, 100% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 81 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 81, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 70.75 | 70.7 | 70.8 | 2 |
| 1970s | 71.9 | 71.9 | 71.9 | 2 |
| 1980s | 74.53 | 73.2 | 75.4 | 10 |
| 1990s | 76.65 | 75.7 | 77.5 | 10 |
| 2000s | 79.04 | 77.9 | 80.4 | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.12 | 80.6 | 81.4 | 10 |
| 2020s | 81 | 81 | 81 | 1 |
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 life expectancy at birth oecd in United Kingdom?
- Life expectancy at birth oecd in United Kingdom was 81 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest life expectancy at birth oecd recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 81.4 in 2014.
- What is the lowest life expectancy at birth oecd recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 70.7 in 1961.
- How does United Kingdom rank for life expectancy at birth oecd?
- United Kingdom ranks 23rd out of 49 countries with data for 2020.
- Is life expectancy at birth oecd 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 Life expectancy at birth oecd. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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