Several areas of Blackpool are among the worst places in England and Wales for healthy life expectancy, according to new figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The data, which uses a new method based on information from the 2021 Census, shows a stark geographical divide across the country, with areas in southern England recording the highest healthy life expectancy and a number of northern communities featuring among the lowest.
Healthy life expectancy measures the average number of years a person can expect to live in good health from birth.
Across England, the median healthy life expectancy between 2019 and 2023 was 66.8 years for females and 65.3 years for males.
In Wales, the figures were lower at 63.8 years for females and 62.5 years for males.
However, the ONS found significant variation between local areas, with healthy life expectancy ranging from more than 80 years in some parts of London to fewer than 50 years elsewhere.
Among men, Central Blackpool ranked third lowest in England and Wales, with a healthy life expectancy of just 47.9 years.
South Promenade & Seasiders Way was seventh lowest at 49.6 years, while North East Centre and North Shore both featured in the bottom 10 at 49.8 years.
For women, North East Centre was ranked second lowest nationally, with a healthy life expectancy of 50.0 years.
South Promenade & Seasiders Way was sixth lowest at 50.8 years, while Little Layton & Little Carleton was ninth lowest at 51.6 years.
The lowest healthy life expectancy recorded for men was in Central Stockton & Portrack in Stockton-on-Tees at 47.7 years.
For women, the lowest figure was in Grimsby East Marsh & Port in North East Lincolnshire at 49.0 years.
At the other end of the scale, residents in some of the country's most affluent areas were found to enjoy decades more in good health.
Knightsbridge, Belgravia & Hyde Park in Westminster recorded the highest healthy life expectancy for both men and women, at 78.3 years and 81.2 years respectively.
Several neighbourhoods in Kensington and Chelsea, along with parts of Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, and Oxfordshire, also featured among the highest-ranking areas.
The ONS calculated healthy life expectancy for more than 7,200 local areas across England and Wales.
The figures reinforce long-standing concerns about health inequalities between different parts of the country, with all of the highest-ranking areas located in southern England, while the lowest-ranked communities were found outside the South.
Parts of London accounted for six of the 10 highest healthy life expectancy areas for men and five of the 10 highest for women.
Meanwhile, Blackpool alone featured four times in the 10 lowest areas for men and three times in the 10 lowest for women.
The ONS said the estimates were based on a new methodology using census data to provide a more detailed picture of health outcomes across local communities.
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Full list
Top 10 highest healthy life expectancy for males
1 - Knightsbridge, Belgravia & Hyde Park (Westminster, London) – 78.3 years
2 = Hans Town (Kensington & Chelsea, London) – 77.1 years
2 = South Kensington (Kensington & Chelsea, London) – 77.1 years
4 - Queen's Gate (Kensington & Chelsea, London) – 77.0 years
5 - Oxshott & Stoke D'Abernon (Surrey) – 76.9 years
6 = Barkham & Woose Hill (Berkshire) – 76.6 years
6 = Worminghall, Long Crendon & Cuddington (Buckinghamshire) – 76.6 years
8 - Notting Hill South (Kensington & Chelsea, London) – 76.5 years
9 = Harpenden Town (Hertfordshire) – 76.3 years
9 = Marylebone & Park Lane (Westminster, London) – 76.3 years
Top 10 lowest healthy life expectancy for males
1 - Central Stockton & Portrack (Stockton-on-Tees) – 47.7 years
2 - Birkenhead Central (Wirral) – 47.8 years
3 - Central Blackpool (Lancashire) – 47.9 years
4 - Grimsby East Marsh & Port (North East Lincolnshire) – 48.0 years
5 - Arboretum, Forest & Trent University (Nottingham) – 48.9 years
6 - Blyth Cowpen (Northumberland) – 49.3 years
7 - South Promenade & Seasiders Way (Blackpool, Lancashire) – 49.6 years
8 - Tranmere (Wirral) – 49.7 years
9 = North East Centre (Blackpool, Lancashire) – 49.8 years
9 = North Shore (Blackpool, Lancashire) – 49.8 years
Top 10 highest healthy life expectancy for females
1 = Knightsbridge, Belgravia & Hyde Park (Westminster, London) – 81.2 years
1 = Hans Town (Kensington & Chelsea, London) – 81.2 years
3 - Barkham & Woose Hill (Berkshire) – 79.1 years
4 - Harpenden Common (Hertfordshire) – 78.4 years
5 - Queen's Gate (Kensington & Chelsea, London) – 78.0 years
6 = North Central Oxford (Oxfordshire) – 77.9 years
6 = Oxshott & Stoke D'Abernon (Surrey) – 77.9 years
6 = Pewley Down & The Mount (Surrey) – 77.9 years
6 = Richmond Central (Richmond upon Thames, London) – 77.9 years
10 = South Kensington (Kensington & Chelsea, London) – 77.8 years
10 = West Chiltington Common (Sussex) – 77.8 years
Top 10 lowest healthy life expectancy for females
1 - Grimsby East Marsh & Port (North East Lincolnshire) – 49.0 years
2 - North East Centre (Blackpool, Lancashire) – 50.0 years
3 - Barkerend West & Little Germany (Bradford) – 50.2 years
4 - Birkenhead Central (Wirral) – 50.5 years
5 - Townhill (Swansea) – 50.6 years
6 - South Promenade & Seasiders Way (Blackpool, Lancashire) – 50.8 years
7 - Ely East (Cardiff) – 51.3 years
8 - Holme Wood (Bradford) – 51.4 years
9 - Little Layton & Little Carleton (Blackpool, Lancashire) – 51.6 years
10 = Barkerend East (Bradford) – 51.7 years
10 = Barrow Central (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria) – 51.7 years
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