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Scots in deprived areas face significantly lower life expectancy, figures show

The difference for men can be as much 13 years and for women 9.6 years, according to the National Records of Scotland.

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Life expectancy for men in Scotland’s most deprived areas is 13 years lower than in the least deprived parts, an official report outlines.

The difference for women is 9.6 years, according to National Records of Scotland statistics.

New figures show average life expectancy for Scots born from 2015 to 2017 has fallen slightly, with men now expected to live until 77 and women until they are 81.1 years old.

Compared with the UK as a whole, men in Scotland are expected to live 2.2 years fewer than average and woman 1.8 years.

Glasgow city was revealed to have the lowest life expectancy for both men and women, at 73.3 and 78.7 respectively, while it was highest in East Renfrewshire, where males can expect to live for 80.5 years and females for 83.7 years.

Life expectancy can vary by as much as 7.2 years between council areas in Scotland.

It has decreased or stalled over the last year in 20 out of 32 local authority areas for males and in 18 areas for females.

The report by National Records of Scotland states: “Deprivation is strongly linked to life expectancy.

“In 2015-2017, males born in the 10% most deprived areas within Scotland could expect to live 13 years fewer than those in the 10% least deprived area.

“For females, the gap was 9.6 years.”

Broken down by health board, the statistics show men have the lowest life expectancy in Greater Glasgow and Clyde but for women it is in Lanarkshire.

The UK-wide figures also show the most common age to die is 86.4 years for men and 88.9 years for women.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy in Scotland have increased over the long-term.

“However, as with a number of developed countries across the world, the UK has recently experienced a significant slow-down in life expectancy.

“The reasons behind this are complex and include an ageing population, health inequalities, deprivation and poverty, and changes in disease patterns.

“We are clear that reducing health inequalities is one of the biggest challenges we face, and are a symptom of wider social inequalities.

“That is why we are taking decisive action on matters such as alcohol, smoking, physical activity and healthy eating, and are acting to end poverty, drive fair wages, support families, invest in affordable housing and ensure fair access to healthcare, and well as mitigating the devastating impacts of the UK Government’s welfare policies.”

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