health
population
inequality
Healthy life expectancy and mortality in the South West of England
This data insight describes patterns in healthy life expectancy at birth and mortality under age 75 in the South West of England. It uses official health statistics to describe how these outcomes vary by sex, over time and across local authority areas.
Healthy life expectancy at birth is an estimate of the average number of years a person would expect to live in good health, based on observed mortality rates and self-reported health status during a given period. Estimates are based on three-year aggregated data to reduce random variation.
The analysis presents trends in healthy life expectancy for males and females in the South West and England, compares local authority estimates for the latest period, and shows mortality rates under age 75 by sex and area.
The South West region is one of 12 International Territorial Level 1 areas (ITL1) in the UK. It comprises Gloucestershire and Wiltshire; West of England; North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset; Devon; and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.
All figures describe population level outcomes observed during each period and do not represent forecasts for individuals.
63.0 years
Male healthy life expectancy at birth (2021-2023) in the South West of England
62.9 years
Female healthy life expectancy at birth (2021-2023) in the South West of England
Bristol
Highest under-75 mortality rates in the Greater West of England, 2022-2024
B&NES
Highest healthy life expectancy at birth (2021-2023) in the Greater West of England
Healthy life expectancy at birth in the South West and England, 2011/13 to 2021/23
This visualisation shows healthy life expectancy at birth for males and females in the South West and England, based on three-year aggregated periods between 2011/13 and 2021/23.
For males in the South West, healthy life expectancy was 64.8 years in 2011/13 and remained around 65 years through most of the period, before falling to 63.0 years in 2021/23. In England, male healthy life expectancy declined from 63.0 years in 2011/13 to 61.5 years in 2021/23.
For females, healthy life expectancy in the South West was higher than for males across most of the period. It ranged from 65.7 years in 2011/13 to 66.0 years in 2019/21, before falling to 62.9 years in 2021/23. In England, female healthy life expectancy declined from 63.9 years in 2011/13 to 61.9 years in 2021/23.
Across the period shown, healthy life expectancy was consistently higher in the South West than in England for both sexes. Figures reflect three-year aggregated estimates and describe population level outcomes observed during each period.
Healthy life expectancy at birth by local authority in the South West, 2021/23
This visualisation shows healthy life expectancy at birth for males and females across selected local authorities in the South West, using data for 2021/23. England and the South West regional average are shown for context.
Among males, healthy life expectancy ranged from 60.4 years in Bristol to 66.2 years in Bath and North East Somerset. Wiltshire recorded a male healthy life expectancy of 64.7 years, while Gloucestershire recorded 63.7 years.
Among females, values ranged from 60.3 years in Bristol to 66.0 years in Bath and North East Somerset. Wiltshire recorded a female healthy life expectancy of 64.8 years, while South Gloucestershire recorded 62.9 years.
The South West regional values were 63.0 years for males and 62.9 years for females. England recorded lower values for both sexes over the same period.
Figures are based on three-year aggregated estimates and reflect observed health outcomes within each local authority area.
Mortality rates under age 75 by sex in the South West and selected local authorities, 2022-2024
This visualisation shows the directly age-standardised mortality rate from all causes for people aged under 75 years, expressed per 100,000 population, for the three-year period 2022 to 2024.
The directly age-standardised mortality rate is an indicator of the overall mortality rate that would occur in a standard population age structure if it experienced the age-specific rates of the observed population. Rates are age standardised using the 2013 European Standard Population.
In the South West, the mortality rate under age 75 was 375.2 per 100,000 for males and 234.0 per 100,000 for females. England recorded higher rates for both sexes, at 415.1 for males and 264.5 for females.
Across selected local authorities, male mortality rates ranged from 321.1 per 100,000 in Bath and North East Somerset to 475.9 in Bristol. Female mortality rates ranged from 206.8 in Bath and North East Somerset to 276.2 in Bristol.
In all areas shown, mortality rates under age 75 were higher for males than for females.
