The most rapid increases in life expectancy at birth over the last two decades were in London (7 years), the North East (6 years) and the North West (5.8 years), according to new data from the Office for National Statistics.

For men at age 65, life expectancy was highest in Kensington and Chelsea (21.6 years) and lowest in Manchester (15.9 years). For women at this age, life expectancy was highest in Camden (24.6 years) and lowest in Manchester (18.8 years).

ONS adds that the East (5.4 years) and South West (5.3 years) experienced the slowest increase and regional differences in life expectancy at birth have reduced.

In 2012–14, life expectancy for newborn baby boys was highest in Kensington and Chelsea (83.3 years) and lowest in Blackpool (74.7 years). For newborn baby girls, life expectancy was highest in Chiltern (86.7 years) and lowest in Middlesbrough (79.8 years).

When this series first began (1991–93), East Dorset had the highest male and female life expectancy at birth. Two decades later, baby boys in Blackpool and girls in Middlesbrough can still expect lower life expectancy. In contrast, baby girls in Chiltern, and boys in Kensington and Chelsea, can expect to live 4 to 5 years longer.

The inequality between the local areas with the highest and lowest newborn life expectancy has increased despite improvements across local areas over the last two decades.

In 2012–14, the inequality between the local areas with the highest and lowest life expectancy at birth was greater for boys than girls.
The majority of local areas in the bottom 50 with the lowest life expectancy at birth (68% of areas for boys and 70% for girls) were in the North East, the North West and Wales.

The top 50 local areas with the highest male life expectancy at birth were in the South East, East, South West, London and East Midlands only. For females, the top 50 included areas in these regions and one each in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber.

In 2012–14, the inequality between the local areas with the highest and lowest life expectancy at age 65 was fairly similar for men and women (5.7 and 5.8 years respectively).