Life Expectancy 2022-2024
Life Expectancy for Local Authorities, 2022-2024
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published the latest national and subnational life expectancy estimates for the UK, covering the three-year period 2022 to 2024. These publications show period life expectancy, which is the average number of years someone will live beyond their current age based on mortality rates during the period.
Central Bedfordshire
The latest ONS figures for 2022–2024 show continued improvement in life expectancy for both males and females in Central Bedfordshire when compared with the previous years (chart 1).
Chart 1: Life Expectancy male v female, 2010 to 2024
Source: Life expectancy for local areas of the UK – Office for National Statistics
Observations:
Life expectancy has marginally improved for both males and females in 2022-2024 compared with the previous three-year period (2021–2023).
- Males LE: +0.2 years, rising from 80.4 to 80.6
- Females LE: +0.1 years, rising from 84.1 to 84.2
Although life expectancy in Central Bedfordshire remains higher than the England average, the recent improvement has been smaller than the national increase. This suggests that while the area continues to perform well overall, its pace of recovery is slightly slower than England as a whole.
Table 1. Central Bedfordshire life expectancy compared to England
| Sex | 2021-2023 (Eng) | 2022-2024 (Eng) | Change (Eng) |
| Male | 80.4 (79.1) | 80.6 (79.5) | +0.2 (+0.4) |
| Female | 84.1 (83.1) | 84.2 (83.3) | +0.1 (+0.2) |
Gender gap:
- 2021–2023: 80.4 – 84.1 = 3.7 years
- 2022–2024: 80.6 – 84.2 = 3.6 years
This shows a slight narrowing of the male–female life expectancy gap in Central Bedfordshire.
Impact of COVID‑19:
Chart 1 illustrated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic with a visual drop for both sexes, highlighting the local impact of increased mortality.
- Life expectancy dipped in the 2019–2021 and 2020–2022 periods due to the pandemic.
- These declines reflect increases in mortality associated with COVID-19.
- The 2022–2024 figures show a recovery toward pre-pandemic levels, although male life expectancy has not fully returned to its 2013–2015 peak (~81.6 years).
Post-pandemic – return to normal:
- Both sexes are showing upward trends, indicating partial recovery and stabilisation in mortality rates after the pandemic.
- Females appear slightly above pre-pandemic levels in 2018-2020.
- Males have improved but have not fully returned to the higher levels seen during 2013-15.
Long-term perspective:
- Female life expectancy has recovered to near its previous peak (84.5 years in 2017-19), reaching 84.2 years in 2022-2024, showing a strong return towards pre-pandemic levels.
- Male life expectancy has also improved but remains below the higher levels of 2013-15 but is showing a gradual upward trajectory.
Summary:
Central Bedfordshire has seen improvements in life expectancy for both males and females in 2022–2024. The male–female gap has slightly narrowed, and the impact of COVID-19 is diminishing. Female life expectancy has returned close to its previous peak (84.5 in 2017-2019), while males continue to recover but remain below earlier year highs.
Overall, Central Bedfordshire the rate of improvement has been slower than England’s despite maintaining higher life expectancy levels.
References
- Life expectancy for local areas of the UK: between 2001-2003 and 2022-2024. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/lifeexpectancyforlocalareasoftheuk/between2001to2003and2022to2024
- Life expectancy at birth and at age 65 years by sex across local areas in the United Kingdom, between 2001 to 2003 and 2022 to 2024. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/dvc3435/fig02/index.html