Life expectancy — Life expectancy difference (female-male) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Life expectancy — Life expectancy difference (female-male) was 3.9 Years in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
3.9 Years
Change on year
down 2.5%
World rank
33rd
of 41 countries
All-time high
6.3 Years
in 1970
All-time low
3.7 Years
in 2012
Years of data
49
1960–2024
Life expectancy — Life expectancy difference in United Kingdom, 1960–2024
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Years.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 3.9 Years for life expectancy — life expectancy difference in 2024.
That represents a change of down 2.5% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life expectancy — life expectancy difference in United Kingdom peaked at 6.3 Years in 1970 and was at its lowest, 3.7 Years, in 2012.
That places United Kingdom 33rd out of 41 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 49 years of available data.
Life expectancy — Life expectancy difference (female-male) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.8 Years | — |
| 1961 | 5.8 Years | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 6.3 Years | +8.6% |
| 1971 | 6.2 Years | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 6.1 Years | -1.6% |
| 1981 | 6 Years | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 5.9 Years | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 5.9 Years | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 5.9 Years | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 5.7 Years | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 5.9 Years | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 5.7 Years | -3.4% |
| 1988 | 5.7 Years | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 5.5 Years | -3.5% |
| 1990 | 5.7 Years | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 5.5 Years | -3.5% |
| 1992 | 5.5 Years | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 5.3 Years | -3.6% |
| 1994 | 5.3 Years | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 5.3 Years | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 5.2 Years | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 5 Years | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 5 Years | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 4.9 Years | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 4.8 Years | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 4.7 Years | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 4.7 Years | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 4.4 Years | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 4.5 Years | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 4.3 Years | -4.4% |
| 2006 | 4.3 Years | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 4.3 Years | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 4.1 Years | -4.7% |
| 2009 | 4.2 Years | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 4 Years | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 3.9 Years | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 3.7 Years | -5.1% |
| 2013 | 3.8 Years | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 3.8 Years | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 3.7 Years | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 3.7 Years | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3.7 Years | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3.7 Years | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3.7 Years | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 4.1 Years | +10.8% |
| 2021 | 4.1 Years | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 3.9 Years | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 4 Years | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 3.9 Years | -2.5% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 3.9 Years is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.55 Years, 86% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 3.9 Years is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.6 Years, 85% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.8 Years | 5.8 Years | 5.8 Years | 2 |
| 1970s | 6.25 Years | 6.2 Years | 6.3 Years | 2 |
| 1980s | 5.83 Years | 5.5 Years | 6.1 Years | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.27 Years | 4.9 Years | 5.7 Years | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.43 Years | 4.1 Years | 4.8 Years | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.77 Years | 3.7 Years | 4 Years | 10 |
| 2020s | 4 Years | 3.9 Years | 4.1 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 — life expectancy difference in United Kingdom?
- Life expectancy — life expectancy difference in United Kingdom was 3.9 Years in 2024, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest life expectancy — life expectancy difference recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 6.3 Years in 1970.
- What is the lowest life expectancy — life expectancy difference recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7 Years in 2012.
- How does United Kingdom rank for life expectancy — life expectancy difference?
- United Kingdom ranks 33rd out of 41 countries with data for 2024.
- Is life expectancy — life expectancy difference rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 — Life expectancy difference (female-male). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
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.