Life expectancy at birth, total (years) (expectancy UNESCO Institute) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Life expectancy at birth, total (years) (expectancy UNESCO Institute) was 81.24 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
81.24 years
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
42nd
of 215 countries
All-time high
81.37 years
in 2019
All-time low
71.97 years
in 1970
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Life expectancy at birth, total in United Kingdom, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2023, life expectancy at birth, total in United Kingdom stood at 81.24 years.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life expectancy at birth, total in United Kingdom peaked at 81.37 years in 2019 and was at its lowest, 71.97 years, in 1970.
That places United Kingdom 42nd out of 215 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 54 years of available data.
Life expectancy at birth, total (years) (expectancy UNESCO Institute) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 71.97 years | — |
| 1971 | 72.27 years | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 72.12 years | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 72.32 years | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 72.52 years | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 72.72 years | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 72.78 years | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 73.22 years | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 73.18 years | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 73.28 years | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 73.68 years | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 74.03 years | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 74.18 years | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 74.38 years | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 74.78 years | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 74.63 years | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 74.93 years | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 75.28 years | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 75.38 years | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 75.58 years | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 75.88 years | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 76.08 years | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 76.43 years | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 76.39 years | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 76.89 years | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 76.84 years | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 77.09 years | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 77.21 years | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 77.19 years | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 77.39 years | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 77.74 years | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 77.99 years | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 78.14 years | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 78.45 years | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 78.75 years | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 79.05 years | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 79.25 years | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 79.45 years | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 79.6 years | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 80.05 years | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 80.4 years | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 80.95 years | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 80.9 years | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 81 years | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 81.3 years | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 80.96 years | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 81.16 years | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 81.26 years | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 81.26 years | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 81.37 years | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 80.33 years | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 80.65 years | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 81.01 years | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 81.24 years | +0.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 81.24 years is above the median for high income countries, which is 81.17 years, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 81.24 years is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 79.74 years, 1.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 72.64 years | 71.97 years | 73.28 years | 10 |
| 1980s | 74.68 years | 73.68 years | 75.58 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 76.74 years | 75.88 years | 77.39 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 78.85 years | 77.74 years | 80.05 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.06 years | 80.4 years | 81.37 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 80.81 years | 80.33 years | 81.24 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More population data for United Kingdom
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1389 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 71,685 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2666 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.169 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.184 (2100)
- Population density 307.14 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.21 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life expectancy at birth, total in United Kingdom?
- Life expectancy at birth, total in United Kingdom was 81.24 years in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest life expectancy at birth, total recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 81.37 years in 2019.
- What is the lowest life expectancy at birth, total recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.97 years in 1970.
- How does United Kingdom rank for life expectancy at birth, total?
- United Kingdom ranks 42nd out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life expectancy at birth, total rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Life expectancy at birth, total (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release