3.1 Figure 1 shows that the expectation of life at birth in Scotland[1] has shown constant improvement over the last 27 years. It has increased from 69.3 years for males born in the period 1981-1983 to 75.8 years for those born in 2008-2010, an increase of 6.5 years. For females, life expectancy has increased from 75.5 years for those born in the period 1981-1983 to 80.4 years for those born in 2008-2010, an increase of 4.9 years.
Figure 1 Life expectancy at birth, Scotland, 1981-1983 to 2008-2010
3.2 Figure 1 also shows that the gap between male and female life expectancy at birth has decreased from 6.2 years in 1981-1983 to 4.6 years in 2008-2010 and has been closing in each period since 2000-2002.
3.3 The improvement in life expectancy at birth for males and females in Scotland since 1997-1999 can be seen in Figure 2a (males) and Figure 2b (females). Comparisons are also given with life expectancy in the United Kingdom, countries within the UK and the countries that typically have the highest and lowest life expectancy in the European Union (EU) (Sweden and Lithuania for males and France and Romania for females).
3.4 Although male and female life expectancy continues to increase in Scotland, it is still below the UK average, which is 78.2 years for males and 82.3 years for females. The gap between UK and Scottish life expectancy is now wider than in 1997-1999, by 0.3 years for males and by 0.4 years for females.
Figure 2a Life expectancy at birth in selected countries, 1997-1999 to 2008-2010 Males
Figure 2b Life expectancy at birth in selected countries, 1997-1999 to 2008-2010 Females
3.5 Scottish male life expectancy has been consistently lower than that of males in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, although the gap has varied over time. Males in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can expect to live longer than those in Scotland by 2.8 years, 1.8 years and 1.3 years respectively. In comparison to 1997-1999, the gap with England has widened by 0.4 years and the gap with Wales has widened by 0.1 years. Only the gap with Northern Ireland has narrowed, by 0.4 years.
3.6 The pattern is similar for female life expectancy in Scotland. Scottish women can expect to live 2.2 years fewer than women in England, 1.4 years fewer than women in Wales and 1.1 years fewer than women in Northern Ireland. Over time, only the comparison with Northern Ireland has shown improvement, narrowing by 0.2 years since 1997-1999. Over the same period, the gap has widened by 0.5 years compared with England and by 0.3 years compared with Wales.
3.7 Male life expectancy in Sweden at 79.4 years is the highest among the EU’s 27 member states, 3.6 years higher than in Scotland. In Lithuania, male life expectancy is 67.5 years, the lowest in the EU and 8.3 years lower than in Scotland. Since 1997-1999 male life expectancy has improved, reducing the gap with Sweden and increasing the gap with Lithuania.
3.8 France has the highest female life expectancy in the EU at 85.0 years, 4.6 years higher than in Scotland. In Romania female life expectancy is 77.4 years, the lowest in the EU. Female life expectancy in Scotland has not improved as much as in France or Romania. The gap in life expectancy between French and Scottish women is 0.2 years wider than in 1997-1999 and the gap between Scottish and Romanian women is 1.4 years narrower than in 1997-1999.