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South-west living key to a long life

29/05/2008

People living in the south-west of England are more likely to lead longer lives, according to official statistics released today.

Research by the Office for National Statistics shows that people living in the region are more likely to live to the age of 75 than anywhere else in England and Wales.

The probability of surviving until the mid seventies was lowest in the north-east of England.

In 2004-06, males in the south-west had a 70 per cent chance of living to 75 compared with a 62 per cent chance in the north-east, while females had an 80 per cent chance in the south-west and 74 per cent in the north-east.

At a local authority level males and females were most likely to live into their mid-seventies in East Dorset.

Women in the area had an 86 per cent chance of reaching 75 while men had a 78 per cent chance.

However at the other end of the spectrum, males were least likely to live to 75 in Manchester where they had only a 52 per cent chance, while females had only a 67 per cent chance of reaching this milestone in Blaenau Gwent.

Overall the probability of surviving to the mid 70s has risen since 1981.

Researchers compared the probability of survival to age 75 in the periods 1981-83 and 2004-06.

They found that the likelihood of living to 75 in England and Wales rose markedly over the period, from 47 per cent to 66 per cent for males and from 66 per cent to 77 per cent for females.