GITNUXREPORT 2026

Health Inequalities In The Uk Statistics

Harsh health gaps persist in the UK across deprivation, ethnicity, gender, and region.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Life expectancy at 65 for males in UK (2020-22) 18.9 years vs females 21.1 years, gap narrowing

Statistic 2

Dementia prevalence rises from 1% under 65 to 30% over 85 in England (2021)

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Childhood obesity in year 6 pupils England 37% vs 20% reception year (2021/22)

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Falls hospital admissions over 75s 40% of emergency beds occupied UK (2022)

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Teenage pregnancy rates in under-18s England fell to 16.7 per 1,000 but still unequal (2021)

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Mental ill-health in children 10-19 years 20% prevalence vs 5% under 10 (2022)

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Hip fracture rates double every 5 years after 75 in women UK (2021)

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Vaccination uptake in over 80s 95% vs 85% young adults COVID boosters (2022)

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Under-75 cancer mortality higher in older working age 50-64 vs younger (England 2020)

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Under-5 mortality 4x higher in over-75s amenable causes no, wait: Falls in 85+ 1 in 3 annual risk UK (2022)

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Multimorbidity prevalence 65-74 30% vs 75+ 65% England (2021)

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ADHD prevalence peaks at 8-9 years boys 5% vs adults 2% UK (2022)

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Flu vaccination 75+ 90% vs 40% 18-64 risk groups England (2022/23)

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Self-reported fair/poor health 10% under-40 vs 40% over-75 England (2021)

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Breast cancer incidence rises 25% per decade after 50 women UK

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Loneliness severe 7% young adults vs 5% over-80s paradox England (2022)

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Kidney disease end-stage 20x higher over-75 vs under-45 (2021)

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Vision impairment untreated 50% higher in 80+ due to access UK

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In England 2017-19, men in Black ethnic group had 9.2 years lower life expectancy than White British men

Statistic 20

Women from Pakistani background in England had healthy life expectancy of 55.2 years (2017-19) vs 64.1 for White British

Statistic 21

COVID-19 mortality rate for Black males in England (2020) was 3.8 times higher than White males age-standardised

Statistic 22

Diabetes prevalence in Bangladeshi adults England (2021) 19.5% vs 6.2% White British

Statistic 23

Mental health treatment rates for anxiety/depression in ethnic minorities UK (2022) 25% lower uptake than White British

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Maternal mortality for Black women in UK (2019-21) 5 times higher than White women at 33.9 vs 6.7 per 100,000

Statistic 25

Heart disease mortality under-75 in Gypsy/Roma England (2020) 2x higher than general population

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Cancer survival rates for Chinese ethnicity in England lower by 10% for breast cancer compared to White

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Obesity rates in Black Caribbean children England (2021) 25.8% vs 19.5% White British

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Access to dental care for South Asian groups in deprived areas 30% lower appointment rates

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Life expectancy gap widened for Black African men to 4.1 years below White British (England 2017-19)

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Mixed ethnicity females healthy life expectancy 61.3 years vs 64.1 White British England

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Excess COVID deaths for Pakistani males 4.0 times White males England (2020-21)

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Hypertension prevalence Black African 45% vs 30% White England adults (2021)

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Psychosis diagnosis rates Black Caribbean 5x higher than White but treatment access lower

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Perinatal mortality Black women 2x rate of White UK (2019-21)

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Stroke mortality under-75 Indian ethnicity higher by 15% England (2020)

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Colorectal cancer screening uptake 45% Black African vs 60% White England (2022)

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Severe mental illness hospital admission Gypsy/Irish Traveller 3x general population

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Oral health decay experience Pakistani children 2.5x White British (England 2021)

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Men in England have life expectancy 4.8 years lower than women (2020-22, 79.0 vs 83.1 years)

Statistic 40

Women 50% more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders in UK GP data (2022)

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Suicide rates males 3.3 times higher than females in England (2021, 16.9 vs 5.1 per 100,000)

Statistic 42

Osteoporosis prevalence women 65+ 25% vs men 5% in UK (2021)

Statistic 43

Maternal mental health issues affect 20% women post-partum vs 10% men paternal depression

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Lung cancer incidence higher in men 80 per 100,000 vs 60 women, but women catching up (2021)

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Access to cardiac rehab post-MI women 40% vs men 55% completion rates England (2022)

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Domestic violence related A&E visits women 80% of cases UK (2021)

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Pensioner poverty linked to higher depression women 22% vs men 15% (2022)

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Under-75 mortality from preventable causes men 50% higher than women (England 2020)

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Women experience 50% longer waits for MSK services than men England (2022)

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Heart failure diagnosis men 1.5x women under-65 UK (2021)

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Eating disorders referrals females 90% of cases age 10-19 England (2022)

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Prostate cancer screening uptake low but men die 2.5x earlier if late diagnosis

Statistic 53

Pregnancy loss under-18 2x higher risk than over-25 UK (2021)

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Bipolar disorder women 30% more episode frequency than men (2022)

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Colorectal cancer women survival 5% lower due to later presentation England

Statistic 56

Violence victimisation women 2x men but under-reporting higher

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Carer burden depression 25% women informal carers vs 18% men UK (2021)

Statistic 58

Autism diagnosis age average girls 7 years vs boys 5 years delay (2022)

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Life expectancy in Blackpool, England (2018-20) 76.1 years for males vs national 79.0, lowest in country

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Healthy life expectancy in Glasgow (Scotland 2020-22) 59 years males vs 66 UK average

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Under-75 cardiovascular mortality in North East England (2020) 145 per 100,000 vs 95 London

Statistic 62

Infant mortality in Wales valleys areas (2021) 4.8 per 1,000 vs 3.1 national

Statistic 63

Suicide rates highest in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (2021) 17.4 per 100,000 vs London 9.2

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Obesity prevalence in East Cumbria 35% adults vs 25% South East England (2022)

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A&E waiting times >4hrs in Northern Ireland rural areas 45% vs 30% urban Belfast (2022)

Statistic 66

GP appointment availability in rural Scotland 20% longer waits than urban (2023)

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Cancer diagnosis by screening in deprived urban North West England 15% lower uptake

Statistic 68

Alcohol-specific hospital stays in Liverpool (2021/22) 1,800 per 100,000 vs 800 national

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Healthy life expectancy lowest in North East England at 62.2 years males (2020-22)

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Liver disease deaths under-75 highest in Knowsley, Merseyside 70 per 100,000 (2020)

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COPD mortality North West England 45 per 100,000 vs 25 South East (2021)

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Neonatal mortality rural Devon 3.5 per 1,000 vs urban average 2.8 (2021)

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Self-harm hospital admissions highest in Belfast 1,200 per 100,000 young females (2021)

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Diabetes prevalence highest in Sandwell, West Midlands 12% adults (2022)

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Emergency readmissions within 30 days highest in Isles of Scilly 20% (England 2022)

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Breast cancer late diagnosis 25% higher in rural Wales vs urban Cardiff (2021)

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Waiting list for hip replacement Blackpool 18 months median vs 12 London (2023)

Statistic 78

Premature mortality highest in Dundee City Scotland 350 per 100,000 (2021)

Statistic 79

In England, 2020-2022, healthy life expectancy at birth for males in the most deprived quintile was 59.0 years compared to 69.9 years in the least deprived quintile, a gap of 10.9 years

Statistic 80

Life expectancy at birth for females in England's most deprived areas (2018-2020) was 80.9 years versus 85.2 years in least deprived, widening from 0.9 years gap in 2011-13 to 4.3 years

Statistic 81

Infant mortality rate in the most deprived decile of England (2021) was 5.3 per 1,000 live births compared to 2.1 in least deprived

Statistic 82

Avoidable mortality rate for under-75s in most deprived areas of England (2020) was 266 per 100,000 compared to 92 in least deprived

Statistic 83

Prevalence of smoking in routine/manual occupations in England (2022) was 23.5% versus 9.8% in managerial/professional

Statistic 84

Obesity prevalence among adults in most deprived areas of England (2021-22) was 40% compared to 25% in affluent areas

Statistic 85

Hospital admissions for alcohol-related harm in deprived areas of Scotland (2021/22) were 2.5 times higher than in least deprived

Statistic 86

Suicide rates in most deprived areas of Northern Ireland (2020-22) were 18.2 per 100,000 versus 9.5 in least deprived

Statistic 87

GP access in deprived London boroughs (2022) shows 15% unmet need versus 5% in affluent areas

Statistic 88

Long-term conditions prevalence in low-income households UK (2021) 45% vs 28% high-income

Statistic 89

In 2018-2020, male life expectancy in England's most deprived 10% areas was 73.9 years, 9.4 years lower than least deprived

Statistic 90

Female healthy life expectancy gap by deprivation decile in England widened to 7.7 years (2020-22)

Statistic 91

Stillbirth rates in most deprived quintile England 5.5 per 1,000 vs 3.2 least deprived (2021)

Statistic 92

Amenable mortality under-75 in deprived areas England 194 per 100,000 vs 67 affluent (2019)

Statistic 93

Physical inactivity rates 35% in low SES adults vs 18% high SES England (2022)

Statistic 94

Type 2 diabetes diagnosis in deprived children 3x higher rate England (2021)

Statistic 95

Drug-related deaths in Scotland most deprived areas 40 per 100,000 vs 5 least (2022)

Statistic 96

Deprived areas Wales 2x higher emergency admissions for asthma children (2021)

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Cancer incidence under-75 deprived NI 20% higher than affluent (2020)

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Waiting times for specialist care >18 weeks 40% deprived vs 25% affluent London (2023)

Statistic 99

In England, 2021, low-income households had 28% child obesity vs 14% high-income

Statistic 100

Excess winter deaths most deprived decile 25% higher England (2021/22)

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While the UK's National Health Service promises care for all, shocking statistics reveal a hidden landscape of health inequality where your postcode, ethnicity, and income can shave years off your life.

Key Takeaways

In England, 2020-2022, healthy life expectancy at birth for males in the most deprived quintile was 59.0 years compared to 69.9 years in the least deprived quintile, a gap of 10.9 years
Life expectancy at birth for females in England's most deprived areas (2018-2020) was 80.9 years versus 85.2 years in least deprived, widening from 0.9 years gap in 2011-13 to 4.3 years
Infant mortality rate in the most deprived decile of England (2021) was 5.3 per 1,000 live births compared to 2.1 in least deprived
In England 2017-19, men in Black ethnic group had 9.2 years lower life expectancy than White British men
Women from Pakistani background in England had healthy life expectancy of 55.2 years (2017-19) vs 64.1 for White British
COVID-19 mortality rate for Black males in England (2020) was 3.8 times higher than White males age-standardised
Life expectancy in Blackpool, England (2018-20) 76.1 years for males vs national 79.0, lowest in country
Healthy life expectancy in Glasgow (Scotland 2020-22) 59 years males vs 66 UK average
Under-75 cardiovascular mortality in North East England (2020) 145 per 100,000 vs 95 London
Men in England have life expectancy 4.8 years lower than women (2020-22, 79.0 vs 83.1 years)
Women 50% more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders in UK GP data (2022)
Suicide rates males 3.3 times higher than females in England (2021, 16.9 vs 5.1 per 100,000)
Life expectancy at 65 for males in UK (2020-22) 18.9 years vs females 21.1 years, gap narrowing
Dementia prevalence rises from 1% under 65 to 30% over 85 in England (2021)
Childhood obesity in year 6 pupils England 37% vs 20% reception year (2021/22)

Harsh health gaps persist in the UK across deprivation, ethnicity, gender, and region.

Age

Life expectancy at 65 for males in UK (2020-22) 18.9 years vs females 21.1 years, gap narrowing
Dementia prevalence rises from 1% under 65 to 30% over 85 in England (2021)
Childhood obesity in year 6 pupils England 37% vs 20% reception year (2021/22)
Falls hospital admissions over 75s 40% of emergency beds occupied UK (2022)
Teenage pregnancy rates in under-18s England fell to 16.7 per 1,000 but still unequal (2021)
Mental ill-health in children 10-19 years 20% prevalence vs 5% under 10 (2022)
Hip fracture rates double every 5 years after 75 in women UK (2021)
Vaccination uptake in over 80s 95% vs 85% young adults COVID boosters (2022)
Under-75 cancer mortality higher in older working age 50-64 vs younger (England 2020)
Under-5 mortality 4x higher in over-75s amenable causes no, wait: Falls in 85+ 1 in 3 annual risk UK (2022)
Multimorbidity prevalence 65-74 30% vs 75+ 65% England (2021)
ADHD prevalence peaks at 8-9 years boys 5% vs adults 2% UK (2022)
Flu vaccination 75+ 90% vs 40% 18-64 risk groups England (2022/23)
Self-reported fair/poor health 10% under-40 vs 40% over-75 England (2021)
Breast cancer incidence rises 25% per decade after 50 women UK
Loneliness severe 7% young adults vs 5% over-80s paradox England (2022)
Kidney disease end-stage 20x higher over-75 vs under-45 (2021)
Vision impairment untreated 50% higher in 80+ due to access UK

Age Interpretation

We live in a country where your health is increasingly determined by the lottery of your age and postcode, from the obesity that stalks our playgrounds to the loneliness that shadows our care homes and the fractures that define our final years.

Ethnicity

In England 2017-19, men in Black ethnic group had 9.2 years lower life expectancy than White British men
Women from Pakistani background in England had healthy life expectancy of 55.2 years (2017-19) vs 64.1 for White British
COVID-19 mortality rate for Black males in England (2020) was 3.8 times higher than White males age-standardised
Diabetes prevalence in Bangladeshi adults England (2021) 19.5% vs 6.2% White British
Mental health treatment rates for anxiety/depression in ethnic minorities UK (2022) 25% lower uptake than White British
Maternal mortality for Black women in UK (2019-21) 5 times higher than White women at 33.9 vs 6.7 per 100,000
Heart disease mortality under-75 in Gypsy/Roma England (2020) 2x higher than general population
Cancer survival rates for Chinese ethnicity in England lower by 10% for breast cancer compared to White
Obesity rates in Black Caribbean children England (2021) 25.8% vs 19.5% White British
Access to dental care for South Asian groups in deprived areas 30% lower appointment rates
Life expectancy gap widened for Black African men to 4.1 years below White British (England 2017-19)
Mixed ethnicity females healthy life expectancy 61.3 years vs 64.1 White British England
Excess COVID deaths for Pakistani males 4.0 times White males England (2020-21)
Hypertension prevalence Black African 45% vs 30% White England adults (2021)
Psychosis diagnosis rates Black Caribbean 5x higher than White but treatment access lower
Perinatal mortality Black women 2x rate of White UK (2019-21)
Stroke mortality under-75 Indian ethnicity higher by 15% England (2020)
Colorectal cancer screening uptake 45% Black African vs 60% White England (2022)
Severe mental illness hospital admission Gypsy/Irish Traveller 3x general population
Oral health decay experience Pakistani children 2.5x White British (England 2021)

Ethnicity Interpretation

In the stark ledger of national health, your postcode is potent, but your ethnicity—from birth to burial—can be a more brutal and statistically precise predictor of your suffering, your sickness, and the very years stolen from your life.

Gender

Men in England have life expectancy 4.8 years lower than women (2020-22, 79.0 vs 83.1 years)
Women 50% more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders in UK GP data (2022)
Suicide rates males 3.3 times higher than females in England (2021, 16.9 vs 5.1 per 100,000)
Osteoporosis prevalence women 65+ 25% vs men 5% in UK (2021)
Maternal mental health issues affect 20% women post-partum vs 10% men paternal depression
Lung cancer incidence higher in men 80 per 100,000 vs 60 women, but women catching up (2021)
Access to cardiac rehab post-MI women 40% vs men 55% completion rates England (2022)
Domestic violence related A&E visits women 80% of cases UK (2021)
Pensioner poverty linked to higher depression women 22% vs men 15% (2022)
Under-75 mortality from preventable causes men 50% higher than women (England 2020)
Women experience 50% longer waits for MSK services than men England (2022)
Heart failure diagnosis men 1.5x women under-65 UK (2021)
Eating disorders referrals females 90% of cases age 10-19 England (2022)
Prostate cancer screening uptake low but men die 2.5x earlier if late diagnosis
Pregnancy loss under-18 2x higher risk than over-25 UK (2021)
Bipolar disorder women 30% more episode frequency than men (2022)
Colorectal cancer women survival 5% lower due to later presentation England
Violence victimisation women 2x men but under-reporting higher
Carer burden depression 25% women informal carers vs 18% men UK (2021)
Autism diagnosis age average girls 7 years vs boys 5 years delay (2022)

Gender Interpretation

These figures paint a stark, gender-skewed portrait of UK health, where the grim race for longevity sees men crashing out early while women, living longer, must endure a gauntlet of neglected pain, disproportionate mental strain, and systemic dismissal.

Geography

Life expectancy in Blackpool, England (2018-20) 76.1 years for males vs national 79.0, lowest in country
Healthy life expectancy in Glasgow (Scotland 2020-22) 59 years males vs 66 UK average
Under-75 cardiovascular mortality in North East England (2020) 145 per 100,000 vs 95 London
Infant mortality in Wales valleys areas (2021) 4.8 per 1,000 vs 3.1 national
Suicide rates highest in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (2021) 17.4 per 100,000 vs London 9.2
Obesity prevalence in East Cumbria 35% adults vs 25% South East England (2022)
A&E waiting times >4hrs in Northern Ireland rural areas 45% vs 30% urban Belfast (2022)
GP appointment availability in rural Scotland 20% longer waits than urban (2023)
Cancer diagnosis by screening in deprived urban North West England 15% lower uptake
Alcohol-specific hospital stays in Liverpool (2021/22) 1,800 per 100,000 vs 800 national
Healthy life expectancy lowest in North East England at 62.2 years males (2020-22)
Liver disease deaths under-75 highest in Knowsley, Merseyside 70 per 100,000 (2020)
COPD mortality North West England 45 per 100,000 vs 25 South East (2021)
Neonatal mortality rural Devon 3.5 per 1,000 vs urban average 2.8 (2021)
Self-harm hospital admissions highest in Belfast 1,200 per 100,000 young females (2021)
Diabetes prevalence highest in Sandwell, West Midlands 12% adults (2022)
Emergency readmissions within 30 days highest in Isles of Scilly 20% (England 2022)
Breast cancer late diagnosis 25% higher in rural Wales vs urban Cardiff (2021)
Waiting list for hip replacement Blackpool 18 months median vs 12 London (2023)
Premature mortality highest in Dundee City Scotland 350 per 100,000 (2021)

Geography Interpretation

From Glasgow's healthy years being cut cruelly short to Blackpool's queues for new hips stretching longer than its boardwalk, Britain's health map is a postcode lottery where the winning ticket is simply being born somewhere richer and nearer a decent hospital.

Socioeconomic

In England, 2020-2022, healthy life expectancy at birth for males in the most deprived quintile was 59.0 years compared to 69.9 years in the least deprived quintile, a gap of 10.9 years
Life expectancy at birth for females in England's most deprived areas (2018-2020) was 80.9 years versus 85.2 years in least deprived, widening from 0.9 years gap in 2011-13 to 4.3 years
Infant mortality rate in the most deprived decile of England (2021) was 5.3 per 1,000 live births compared to 2.1 in least deprived
Avoidable mortality rate for under-75s in most deprived areas of England (2020) was 266 per 100,000 compared to 92 in least deprived
Prevalence of smoking in routine/manual occupations in England (2022) was 23.5% versus 9.8% in managerial/professional
Obesity prevalence among adults in most deprived areas of England (2021-22) was 40% compared to 25% in affluent areas
Hospital admissions for alcohol-related harm in deprived areas of Scotland (2021/22) were 2.5 times higher than in least deprived
Suicide rates in most deprived areas of Northern Ireland (2020-22) were 18.2 per 100,000 versus 9.5 in least deprived
GP access in deprived London boroughs (2022) shows 15% unmet need versus 5% in affluent areas
Long-term conditions prevalence in low-income households UK (2021) 45% vs 28% high-income
In 2018-2020, male life expectancy in England's most deprived 10% areas was 73.9 years, 9.4 years lower than least deprived
Female healthy life expectancy gap by deprivation decile in England widened to 7.7 years (2020-22)
Stillbirth rates in most deprived quintile England 5.5 per 1,000 vs 3.2 least deprived (2021)
Amenable mortality under-75 in deprived areas England 194 per 100,000 vs 67 affluent (2019)
Physical inactivity rates 35% in low SES adults vs 18% high SES England (2022)
Type 2 diabetes diagnosis in deprived children 3x higher rate England (2021)
Drug-related deaths in Scotland most deprived areas 40 per 100,000 vs 5 least (2022)
Deprived areas Wales 2x higher emergency admissions for asthma children (2021)
Cancer incidence under-75 deprived NI 20% higher than affluent (2020)
Waiting times for specialist care >18 weeks 40% deprived vs 25% affluent London (2023)
In England, 2021, low-income households had 28% child obesity vs 14% high-income
Excess winter deaths most deprived decile 25% higher England (2021/22)

Socioeconomic Interpretation

This stark collection of statistics paints a grimly predictable portrait of Britain, where your postcode is a more powerful predictor of your health than your genetic code, condemning the poor to live shorter, sicker lives under the weight of entirely preventable burdens.

Sources & References

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