Text Only Version

Rate this page

Life Expectancy

Summary Points
  • In Merthyr Tydfil, life expectancy at birth for men is 75.5 years and for women 79.1 years [2004-06]
  • The unitary authorities with the lowest life expectancies in 2004-06, for both men and women, were generally situated in the South Wales valleys, with Blaenau Gwent having the lowest of all; Merthyr Tydfil had the lowest life expectancy figures in 1991-1993
  • This pattern has not changed substantially in the last decade. Comparisons between the unitary authorities with the highest and lowest life expectancies, in 2004-06, showed that figures for males across Wales ranged from 74.8 to 78.7 years, whilst figures for females ranged from 78.7 to 83.3 years.

Key Facts

  • In Merthyr Tydfil, life expectancy at birth for men is 75.5 years and for women 79.1 years [2004-06]
  • The unitary authorities with the lowest life expectancies in 2004-06, for both men and women, were generally situated in the South Wales valleys, with Blaenau Gwent having the lowest of all; Merthyr Tydfil had the lowest life expectancy figures in 1991-1993.
  • This pattern has not changed substantially in the last decade. Comparisons between the unitary authorities with the highest and lowest life expectancies, in 2004-06, showed that figures for males across Wales ranged from 74.8 to 78.7 years, whilst figures for females ranged from 78.7 to 83.3 years.

 

In 2004-06 both males and females in Wales had life expectancies slightly below their respective UK figures (77.0 years for males, 81.3 years for females). In relation to the other constituent countries of the UK, life expectancy at birth, for both males and females in Wales was:

  • lower than England (77.3 years for males, 81.6 years for females)
  • higher than Scotland (74.6 years for males, 79.6 years for females).
  • higher than Northern Ireland for males (76.2 years) but the same for females (81.0 years).

Useful Links

National Statistics Online

Wales Centre for Health - Pictures of Health in Wales