scotPHO introduction:
  Amenable Mortality
  Deaths
  Healthy Life Expectancy
Key points
  Introduction
  Policy context
  Data
  Key data sources
  References
  Useful links
  Migration
  Population Estimates & Forecasts
  Pregnancy & births
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Healthy life expectancy: key points

Whereas life expectancy (LE) is an estimate of how many years a person might be expected to live, healthy life expectancy (HLE) is an estimate of how many years they might live in ‘good’ health.

  • LE and HLE at birth in Scotland have both improved over recent years, but the gap between them (the years expected to be spent in ‘not good’ health) has also increased.
  • There are considerable variations in LE and HLE in Scotland between males and females and among different geographical and socio-economic groupings.
  • LE and HLE are both worse (lower) in Scotland than in the UK as a whole.
  • Scotland has one of the lowest LEs in Western Europe. International comparisons of HLE are hampered by the lack of consistent health measures. However, on the basis of a related indicator, disability-free life expectancy, Scotland would appear to compare poorly with many Western European countries, particularly for men.

 

Section updates:

  • The last major update of this section was completed in December 2008.
  • The next major update is due to be carried out by end December 2009.