Life expectancy, probability of dying and number of persons surviving from the period and cohort life tables, using observed and projected mortality data from the 2022-based national population projections (NPPs), for the UK and constituent countries.
In this release we report on figures for 2023 as this is the latest year which uses observed mortality data, that is annual death registrations, in the calculation. Figures for 2024 onwards are based on projections of mortality.
Commenting on today’s findings, the ONS’ Kerry Gadsdon said:
“Boys born in the UK in 2023 can expect to live on average to age 86.7 years, and girls to live to 90 years, taking into account projected changes in mortality patterns over their lifetime.
“Meanwhile, it is projected that more than 1 in 10 boys and 1 in 6 girls born in 2023 will live to at least 100 years old.
“The gap between male and female cohort life expectancy at birth has fallen over the past four decades. This is likely due to improvements in lifestyle, for example reduction in smoking rates and the working conditions of men over several decades, as well as advances in healthcare, for example the prevention and treatment of heart disease. The gap is projected to be down to 2.5 years by 2072.”
Main points
- Boys born in the UK in 2023 can expect to live on average to age 86.7 years and girls to age 90.0 years based on projections of cohort life expectancy which take into account future improvements in mortality.
- Cohort life expectancy at birth in the UK is projected to reach 89.3 years for boys and 92.2 years for girls born in 2047, an increase of 2.6 years and 2.2 years respectively from 2023 levels.
- People aged 65 years in the UK in 2023 can expect to live on average a further 19.8 years for males and 22.5 years for females based on cohort life expectancy, projected to rise to 21.8 years for males and 24.4 years for females by 2047.
- A projected 17.3% of boys and 24.7% of girls born in 2047 in the UK will live to at least 100 years old, an increase from 11.5% of boys and 17.9% of girls born in 2023.
- Our latest projections of cohort life expectancy at birth are 1.0 years lower for males and 0.5 years lower for females born in 2047 than the 2020-based interim projections.
Go to our release
Enter your details into our life expectancy calculator for the UK to find out how long you are expected to live for given assumed future mortality improvements (your cohort life expectancy). You can also find out your chances of surviving to at least age 100 years.
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