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Health · 12 July 2026

UK healthy life expectancy falls to 13-year low, unlike most rich nations

UK healthy life expectancy falls to 13-year low, unlike most rich nations

Healthy life expectancy has fallen in the UK in recent years, but it has risen across most other wealthy nations. The Office for National Statistics reported that healthy life expectancy for men was 60.7 years and for women 60.9 years in 2022-2024, the lowest since 2011. The decline is partly blamed on the NHS by a think tank, citing issues like long waits for GP appointments and non-urgent surgery.

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Reported by BBC · How we write briefs

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